Civil service cuts: national strike action needed

Submitted by cathy n on 23 February, 2007 - 10:15

By a civil servant
More than 150,000 PCS members took strike action on 31 January, more than the last national dispute on 5 November 2005. This was a solid start has been made to the campaign against cuts in the service. The union is demanding: no compulsory guarantee; a better pay system; and union agreement on outsourcing/privatisations.

The need for a national pay system (which is our definition of a fairer pay system) has been brought home sharply by events in the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA).

DCA have imposed a below inflation pay offer on the 24,000 staff in that department. The imposition means pay increases “averaging just 1.75% for most, will mean a pay cut in real terms for some of the lowest paid in the public sector and lead to a pay freeze at 2005 pay levels for the most experienced staff”. All this against a background of 3% plus inflation.

We should prepare for a long fight. We have to find ways of keeping members informed and active in the campaign.

We have to look at our tactics as well. Whilst we are all in favour of the maximum national action from all members, selective action must be used as well. A series of quick actions (a few days at most) in key areas will disrupt civil service work.

To make this effective we need a national levy. Ever since Left Unity (or more accurately the Socialist Party) won the National Executive there have been calls for such a levy. These calls were ignored. Nevertheless we must begin collecting money now.

In the meantime (and before any further national strike) the union is holding national events and encouraging Groups (a sub-division of the union) to take action over pay and other disputes.

Of course we should be having a national pay dispute rather than local ones. The union must submit one pay claim to the Treasury asking for an across the board real pay increase for all. When this demand is rejected we can then take action over pay - the national ballot allows us to do this without a further national legal vote. If we do not go down this road then we will retreat into local pay. At present there are over a hundred bargaining units within the civil service and hence over a hundred sets of local talks. If it is business as usual then the struggle will be weakened.

The union is pushing heavily a “Make Your Vote Count” campaign for the forthcoming local council, Scottish and Welsh elections, asking members to write to candidates about their attitudes to job cuts etc. Of course the implication, for instance around MOD base closures, could be that members should vote Tory! There are, to put it mildly, better ways to intervene in politics.

Within the constraints of non affiliation and the rules on the political fund we must openly support and campaign for John McDonnell. If McDonnell gets on the ballot, then we can begin to construct a political instrument for our struggle. What some would regard as “just politics” is in fact a vital industrial necessity too i.e. a change in the Labour Party leadership.

Lastly there should be a wider labour movement dimension. Unison have put in a 5% pay claim - they are not going to get that or anything like that without action.

Both the PCS and Unison - indeed all other public sector unions - should work together on pay and jobs.

The above ideas are an attempt to figure out a way forward. Therefore if you read this article and disagree/have other ideas please contact Solidarity and have your say.

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