As part of our response to the comprehensive spending review, branches are urged to gather information on cuts and participate in campaign activities taking place over the coming weeks and months, alongside recruitment and organising work.
Groups are engaging with management to seek information on cuts and, wherever possible, assurances on jobs and terms and conditions. Branches are asked to feed through to Group officers details, as they emerge, of how the cuts will implemented.
A national campaign liaison group (NCLG) meeting will be held on 23 November to consider the detailed cuts programmes and to coordinate campaign activities. Guidance will be issued to negotiators. The national executive will consider feedback from the NCLG at its meeting in early December.
Campaigning action
We are entering a new phase in our national campaign as cuts programmes are announced across the civil and public services. We are playing a key role in building a popular movement opposing the cuts across the trade unions and our communities.
Our pamphlet - “There is an alternative: the case against cuts in public spending” - has been very influential and helped to shift the debate away from the inevitability of cuts. Branches are urged to order copies for local use. It can also be downloaded from our campaign pages.
PCS is working with other unions, the TUC, campaigning organisations and our parliamentary group to organise a number of national events protests, lobbies of MPs and a conference to promote the alternative to cuts.
This work is focusing on a range of issues including job cuts and cuts in welfare and tax justice. Over pensions, we continue to work with the TUC and other unions to oppose an increase in members’ contributions, and we are pursuing the possibility of a legal challenge to the change from RPI to CPI indexation.
At the local level we must work to mobilise members. Across the country PCS reps and members are involved in forming anti-cuts alliances on a town or regional basis. Branches are asked to use the campaign materials available to highlight the alternatives to cuts both among members and the wider public.
Details of campaigning activities taking place in the coming weeks across the UK can be obtained from this PCS website. Branches are urged to make contact with other unions, trades councils and community organisations, and participate in local campaigns.
National demonstration
The TUC has now confirmed 26 March 2011 as the date for a national demonstration against cuts and privatisation in London. This should be a huge protest. Branches are asked to start planning how they will mobilise the maximum number of members, and their families and friends, to go on the demonstration. Further briefings will be issued on building for this event.
Given the speed with which the government’s cuts will impact, PCS has been arguing for an earlier national demonstration. We proposed such a demonstration at the TUC’s public sector liaison group on 8 November.
Unfortunately, a majority of the unions represented there did not agree to the proposal. We will therefore be discussing with other unions what initiatives can be taken to build as much activity as possible over the coming months.
Industrial action
The NEC will consider feedback from the NCLG at its meeting in early December, including the possibility of national industrial action. A national ballot is likely at some stage, possibly alongside other unions. But we do not yet know what will trigger a national dispute.
Branches should not wait for national action to oppose cuts. We need action at every level. Branches and groups will be faced with job losses and other industrial issues arising from the government’s cuts policies.
These may give rise to disputes with clear, achievable objectives. For example, reducing the number of job cuts in a particular bargaining area, or preventing an office closure. The more branch or group action that takes place which wins concessions, the more likely the prospect of successful national action and, potentially, joint union action. National disputes committee submissions should be made where members would support action and the objectives of action are clear.
Recruitment
In the current circumstances, recruitment of non-members is an important part of our strategy, increasing our bargaining strength and our ability to mount successful campaigns. Branches are urged to prioritise recruitment activity alongside campaigning action to defend jobs and services.
Branches are urged to:
- Feed through to group officers further details, as they emerge, of how the cuts will implemented,
- Distribute campaign materials to members, and continue to organise members’ meetings on the national campaign
- Continue to forge local links with other unions and build support for local protests and demos - use the joint statement with Unison
- Begin planning for the TUC demonstration next March
- Recruit your colleagues to the union - there’s never been a more important time to join PCS.
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