Tag: network

The Broad Left Network is a campaign for a fighting, democratic union. Our supporters include members of several political parties and independents. We are all Socialists and support PCS Left Unity.

The election campaign for the Assistant General Secretary of PCS raised issues that remain central to the future of our union. The majority of the Left Unity National Committee failed to actively campaign for the election of the candidate chosen by the Left Unity members. Some even campaigned for a candidate who was not in LU. This led to the loss of the election and a victory for a political opponent. We cannot rely on these LUNC members to respect the decision of Left Unity members in the General Secretary election if their preferred candidate is not successful.

We stand for:

INCREASED DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY: A RETURN TO LAY CONTROL

• A campaign to restore lay democracy and control and to strengthen the democratic accountability of the union to its lay structures. A campaign to turn back the increased top down HQ control in favour of lay control. A campaign to extend accountability through periodic election of FTOs. Senior FTOs should be on wages more closely linked to our members.
• A campaign to restore Left Unity as an open, democratic, fighting rank and file organisation – one which will hold the leadership to account; where differences on issues can be held and expressed; where members unify around and actively support agreed election candidates.

Bargaining / Campaigns

• For a national campaign to defend jobs, pay, conditions and services. Co-ordinating action and campaigns on issues such as pensions, compensation scheme, jobs and office closures.
• For organising and fighting for PCS recognition across all private companies delivering work that should be done by permanent Civil Servants, including HR and facilities management. To include a decent living wage, decent conditions and working environment. A campaign to bring back into public ownership privatised and contracted out work.
• For a return to national bargaining across the Civil Service.
• For effective FTO support for Groups and Employer bargaining units.

Equality

• For an equality strategy that puts equality into practice, such as fighting for decent affordable childcare provision, parental leave and workplace nurseries, and flexible working.
• For fair and equality proofed pay and personnel systems as a step towards removing barriers in the workplace and encourage participation at all levels of the union.
• For an equality agenda that pro-actively fights for the rights of all our members including Women, Black, LGBTQ+ and Disabled members.
• To ensure that the tone and attitude in discussion and debate across the union is conducted in a comradely manner and encourage everyone to have their say.

Political strategy

• For an independent political voice for PCS.
• For working collectively with politicians and campaigns who support the policies of PCS. For PCS to independently defend the interests of PCS members whoever is in Government.
• For a Jeremy Corbyn led government that increases pay, stops the cuts and office closures, restores national bargaining, renationalises privatised services, introduces better rights at works, scraps and replaces Universal Credit with a fair social security system.

The Broad Left Network aims to build support for these ideas and to campaign for candidates who share these views. If you support these aims and want to get involved then please contact us at…