In 1997 many PCS members welcomed the election of New
Labour, believing that they offered a radical alternative to the
Tories. However, this illusion was quickly shattered when Blair
and Brown launched their attacks on public servants’ Jobs,
Pensions, Pay and working conditions.
Dave Lunn, Liverpool CNWP & PCS
(personal capacity)
PCS members no longer harbour such illusions in New Labour as
they are able to see that it is now nothing more than a party of
big business. We are in a situation where the three main
political parties are indistinguishable from each other. At the
last election PCS members saw the amazing spectacle of New
Labour, Tories and Lib Dems all involved in a bidding war over
how many Civil Service jobs they could axe!
PCS Members face continued attacks
Following the U.S. sub-prime crisis, the British and World
economies look to be sinking deeper into trouble.
We will almost certainly see further attacks on workers in
general and public sector workers in particular. In an attempt
to ‘slimline’ the Civil Service, we are likely see an increased
push towards privatisation and a continuation of a below
inflation pay cap. This will mean that PCS members will face
year on year attacks on their living standards unless we get
organised politically and do something about it.
Political solution required
PCS is fortunate to have a fighting leadership which has
successfully defended members against the worse excesses of
these attacks but it is becoming clear to members that to make
real advances in our working conditions a political solution is
required.
In 2007, PCS launched the Make Your Vote Count (MYVC) campaign
raising the issues faced by members in the political arena.
Before the 2007 local elections the majority of candidates
standing were contacted. They were asked to support the aims of
our national campaign in defence of pay, jobs and working
conditions. While we received sympathy and concern from many of
those contacted, one year later we have seen little in respect
of action.
What MYVC has shown is that none of the mainstream parties are
capable of defending the interests of our members.
PCS members are now in most cases left disenfranchised in local
and national elections so we in the Campaign for a New Workers
Party are campaigning for the establishment of a new mass workers’
party in England and Wales.
Such a formation would give PCS members and other workers a
genuine and independent voice on the political stage. It would be
a forum where like-minded workers in struggle could meet and
organise, linking into each-others’ campaigns, democratically
deciding the best way forward.
If you agree,
join the campaign today!
