PCS stalls in pensions campaign

Submitted by Matthew on 25 January, 2012 - 2:44

The “refusenik” unions in the pensions battle will meet this week to discuss the next steps… even if those steps are just to stand still.

The National Executive of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), although aware of the University and College Union’s decision to set 1 March as the next pension strike day, has decided not to put a definite date to the “refusenik” meeting, and has not committed to supporting the UCU’s proposal. The PCS, on paper the most stridently “rejectionist” of all national unions, will therefore essentially attend the meeting in listening mode.

PCS has also agreed to consult members over whatever package comes out of the civil service pension talks; these discussions being concluded in mid-February. It is likely that this “consultation” will take the form of a ballot.

It is hard to see PCS agreeing to take action on 1 March whilst consulting members on the outcome of negotiations that don’t conclude until mid-February. PCS activists will eagerly anticipate what the union’s recommendation for how members should vote in that ballot will be.

Another straw in the wind against action on 1 March is that the next NEC has been arranged for 9 February; that doesn’t leave much time to rev up members from a standing start.

So it all seems clear that, for PCS at least, the pension fight has at best been postponed for a while.

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