Statement on the levy

We understand and relate to the concerns raised about the levy, amongst some members and reps. We know that the cost-of-living crisis has impacted on PCS members and our families and that every penny counts. Which is why campaigning to improve pay and conditions remains crucial.

The levy is not a point of principle. PCS should have built on the strike mandate won in areas covering 10,000 members and implemented union policy carried at ADC last May. Building a serious campaign to eradicate low pay, protect jobs, improve our pension contributions and working conditions remains vital. If paid targeted action forms part of our plan, then we must be able to fund it.

Left Unity have spent the last year dishonestly attacking us rather than implementing the decisions made last July which included a review of the levy and an immediate reduction for the lowest paid members.

The facts:

• The levy was imposed by the previous union leadership without discussion with activists or members, to build funds to finance paid strike action called during the ‘national campaign’.
• The new NEC took office in May 24. PCS had won a strike mandate covering 10,000 members. ADC 24 passed policy instructing us to urgently build on the “national campaign”.
• At the July NEC we proposed that fresh demands must be placed on the employer urgently, that we exercise our strike mandate linking up with other striking workers where we could and work to build support across the union to prepare for fresh ballots if necessary. All this to leverage a new government desperate to “buy industrial peace”.
• Recognising that we needed to both ensure funding to continue to support paid action and address concerns about the level of the levy the NEC instructed the General Secretary to undertake an urgent review of the scope, purpose and size of the levy payment, together with an instruction to reduce it immediately for our lowest paid members. To cancel it would have restricted our ability to support paid action.
• It is the General Secretary and National President who are responsible for the current situation as it is they who have refused to implement the decision made by the NEC nearly 7 months ago.
• We believe action, including paid action, will be necessary as cuts and pay limits have been announced.  A motion was carried at the January NEC to prepare to fight this.
• We understand concerns about the levy. That is why we demand that the General Secretary and National President implement the decision made by the NEC last July to urgently review it and immediately reduce payments from our lowest paid members. We will always listen to your concerns but cancelling the levy would leave us without funds for paid action. We must now all work hard to build support for a campaign to stop the governments attacks and win on pay.