The Broad Left Network supports the decision to re-ballot members to extend our current strike mandate which runs out on 6th May. The ballot starts on 20th March and will finish on 9th May.
It’s vital we get over the Tory 50% anti-union law threshold. It’s vital we get a massive Yes vote to continue the fight for our 2022 pay demand of 10% and to defend jobs .
After months of targeted action and two 1 day national strikes the government has not moved. No fresh offer has been made to increase our 2022 pay beyond the 2% government pay limit.
It’s a disgrace that the Tory Government is prepared to turn its back on thousands of its own employees forced into in-work poverty by its policies:-
- 40,000 civil servants use food banks
- 45,000 civil servants claim in-work benefits
- 49,000 DWP/HMRC workers are paid the minimum wage
The government is holding pay talks with health and education unions. Their strikes have brought ministers to the negotiating table. But as Mark Serwotka is reported as saying “…they won’t talk to their own workforce..”
This government indifference to the cost of living crisis suffered by our members will only be overcome by stepping up the action, by increasing the pressure on the Tories. This requires the urgent implementation of a programme of national action, sustained targeted strikes and, we would argue, a ballot for action short of strikes such as overtime bans.
Yes we need to win the ballot to renew our industrial action mandate. We will work tirelessly to achieve this. But it cannot be just for more of the same. We need the union’s current leadership to articulate a strategy to win our 10% claim, to defend jobs , secure pension justice and protect the compensation scheme.
The government can be moved. We need to massively escalate the action!
PCS Broad Left Network 