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The views of 'Member4' are not a statement of the policies of the grouping '4the members'. They are the opinion of one individual.
Sunday 22nd May 2011
I've been let loose on the front page, so I'll keep it brief. I will be exploring moving my column to Twitter in due course as it is easier to use. Conference in Brighton saw a lot of interesting and challenging debates. Sadly none of them were in the hall.
This will be a challenging year. Left Unity never think too far ahead, but basically, by next year, either their strategy will have suceeded, the Government will have fallen, and public spending cuts will be over OR PCS will be in an unholy mess.
Member 4
Sunday 8th May 2011
Well, you'll expect some sour grapes and I won't disappoint. A real tragedy for the civil service and PCS members, but then the 90% who couldn't be arsed to vote says it all. Congratulations to Janice Godrich and her cronies on their re-election. Please don't destroy any chance of a fighback on pensions by jumping the gun whilst the TUC are still talking to the Government.
And bye bye to all those Lib Dems who used to run our councils! Sooner or later if you try to be all things to all people and sell your soul for a ministerial position you'll get found out.
4TM needs to join the Liberals in having a long hard look at itself. PCS needs an alternative vision, and 4TM, whilst able to point out our opponents shortcomings did not offer one. Time for some fresh thinking about what our alternative to opposing all mainstream political parties, constantly calling for a general strike, standing loony left candidates at elections and bankrupting the union might be.
There is one. It is called affiliation to the Labour Party.
Member 4
Monday 2nd May 2011
The PCS strategy for destroying all hope of a united public sector front on pensions is becoming clear.
The TUC is in discussion with Government about the future of pensions, following the Hutton report. The Government intends to publish it's proposals in the Autumn. Critically, this will be after talks have taken place. You'll find no mention of this on the PCS website.
It is pretty clear from Hutton what the Government intends to do. However talks are ongoing.
The NUT and other teachers unions are choosing to jump the gun. They have been critised by other unions for this. However PCS, with it's Socialist Party instructions is intend on splitting the TUC. The decision to ballot on strike action which will be rubber stamped in Brighton in two weeks has been followed up by a Mayday message from Janice and Mark that basically it is time to strike.
So PCS will be joining the teachers in taking a Charge of the Light Brigade type action. The Goverment's response to this will be so easy. 'We are still in discussion with the unions, our proposals have not been published yet'.
Mark Serwotka has learned nothing from the experience of 2005, when united union action saw off the last attempt to destroy our pensions. he has learned nothing from the CSCS debacle where refusing to work with the other civil service unions saw defeat, despite our members losing pay in futile strike action.
Member 4
Thursday 21st April 2011
A 'Personal Message from Janice Godrich' just popped through my letter box. A desperate leaflet if ever thre was one.
First off, she quotes 'her record'. The claims (in the main) are the same ones as listed on the home page of this site.
That they prevented redundancies (at a time when an unprescedented number of civil servants are leaving).
That they fought against the CSCS (don't mention that they lost, and that droves of civil servants are leaving under the terms which were imposed last December.)
That they protected final salary pension schemes (at a time when they are being abolished).
That they stopped planned privatisations (at at a time when administration of civil service pensions is being privatised and PCS is rightly criticised for doing to little too late about it).
That they 'built unity' with other unions. (At a time when they are blowing that unity apart, by going for a premature strike ballot which will damage the chances of united action on pensions).
The list of achivements is so flimsy that she falls back on the Reamsbottom coup attempt. Not surprising, since the actions of Barry Reamsbottom led to Left Unity winning control of PCS.
However let us get something straight. 4themembers is not a 're-invention' of the Moderate group. 4TM was a grouping formed from new activists and those who were disgusted at Barry's actions. The Moderate group continued to exist for some years and fought against 4TM for several years.
But whilst we are on the subject of the past we should not forget that it was Left Unity who forced an election for General Secretary back in 2000 when there wasn't actually a vacancy. They supported Hugh 'passport' Lanning for the job. An independent candidate called Mark Serwortka stood against Left Unity's candidate, and won with the help of moderate votes!
So if we are going to drag up a past, from which few emerge unblemished, lets have the whole story!
The real point is that, after all all this time Janice Godrich has no achivements that stand up and is forced to drag this up once again. After all this time Janice, you really ought to have something more substantial to shout about!
Member 4
Monday 18th April 2011
The NEC election booklets have arrived. The election addresses make fascinating reading (not!)
However for those prepared to plough through, it's worth doing, even for the unflattering photos. Whatever faction you are voting for, don't expect a photogenic committee to emerge.
Rob Williams election address caught my eye. PCS has (apparently) been 'defending' the CSCS scheme. Poor Rob seems have completeley missed the fact that a new scheme was introduced last December. The fact that lots of of staff within his Department left on these terms wasn't on his radar either.
Generally, several of the left unity candidates trumpet the fact that they've protected the final salary pension schem and retirement at 60. A rash claim in the current climate.
On another topic, we have mentioned Hugh 'Passport' Lanning (Deputy GS) on these pages before. You may be interested to read an article on the website 'Harry's Place' on this topic.
Hopefully Hugh will clarify whether the costs of this have been paid by PCS. I mean it's not as if we're in deficit, is it?
Member 4
Wednesday 12th April 2011
The elections begin on Thursday! The annual opportunity to restore sanity to PCS.
We get a lot of correspondence on this site. Some friendly, some a bit strange and some downright abusive.
However this year we'll be interested to hear and stories about how the election is being conducted down your way. Some PCS official material has been spotted already which all but invites members to support the current incumbents.
If you have a concern, we'll be happy to advise. We get some contact from people who oppose left Unity but are uncomfortable about being too vocal about it. We understand, and will be happy to advise you in confidence.
Member 4
Sunday 3rd April 2011
It was disappointing that PCS could not bring itself to codemn the violence that followed the March For The Alternative. The Socialist Party (who pull the PCS strings) insisted that the police has caused all the violence. Given that the TUC and the police worked hard to ensure the sucess of the main demonstration, that is an insult.
Some people, including me, have some sympathy for UK Uncut. I think they sought to undertake peaceful civil disobedience. Indeed I have heard stories of arrests of some of the protesters which seem harsh.
However it isn't hepful that we can't condemn some of the groups who arrived 'tooled up' for the violence which followed later. They were a tiny minority but it is to PCS's shame that it cannot condemn them. Why? They have no place in the trade union movement.
It is to be hoped that the march can, in future (there will need to be more such events) continue to be family events. We need to speak out against these thugs that ruin the posibility of a mass movement that will force the ToryLiberals to think again.
Member 4
Sunday 27th March 2011
What a great day yesterday was. (Except if you were trying to get home on the East Coast line). It shows what can be done when all strands of opinion in PCS (and the bigger movement work together). It also showed what damage can be done by few extremists.
Good themes for the coming elections.
Member 4
Wednesday 23rd March 2011
Hugo Chavez is at it again. Apparently the reason that Life on Mars ended (not the TV series) was all down to capitalism.
His friends on the far left within the UK have a bit of a problem. Whilst they are reluctant to join Chavez in his support for Gadaffi, they can't bring themselves to admit that intervention to prevent slaughter of civilians might just be the right thing to do.
Perhaps Hugh 'passport' Lanning might have a word the next time he travels to support Chavez at PCS expense?
PS The PCS expenses files will be with you soon. Sadly our mole had to take cover when Chris Baugh made reference to this very blog at the last NEC. Hello Chris, good to know your are a follower! You could, of course, just publish NEC and FTO expenses yourself!
Member 4
Sunday 13th March 2011
The Hutton report has been published. No surprises, for civil servants it reverses the pensions 'deal' of 2005, closes our final salary scheme, reduces the benefits and ups the costs.
For PCS it has been long expected. This is the real battle, not the CSCS. This is the one where there is the potential for unity accross the public sector.
The worry for us is that our leadership are fixated, not just on having industrial action, but LEADING the action. Our NEC don't construct campaigns with startegy and objectives. They look to see who is having a strike and if it will feasible for us to join. The approach favoured by Bob Crow.
We need to learn to work with other unions. We seem sadly lacking so far.
Member 4
Thursday 24th February 2011
Well, I won't listen to William Hague again. Even a Tory Foreign Secretary (I thought) would have to be fairly sure of his facts.
No apology to Hugo Chavez though. Whilst I'm pleased he's not sheltering the Colonel, as long as he bans free trade unions in his country, PCS has no place supporting him.
Member 4
Monday 21st February 2011
Just listened to the news. Apparently Col. Gaddaffi is possibly on his way to Venezuela. Yes, the same regime (which has banned free trade unions) which PCS supports.
When your are in a union that does nothing to help its own members being privatised and champions a regime which is prepared to shelter a leader who hires foreign mercanaries to gun down his own civilians you do begin to wonder why.
PS Some real breaking news about corruption within PCS with you soon.
Member 4
Sunday 13th February 2011
Members in My Civil Service Pension certainly won't be sending Mark a valentine tomorrow. Their pleas for his help have not been answered (see the homepage).
I'm told that 4themembers will also be addressing expenses paid to senior lay reps and full time officers. Last year a request was made that these expenses were published but opposed with some venom by the leadership. For example, we've been told that the President of PCS is provided with a free flat in London at your expense. (To be confirmed).Travelling expenses of NEC members are hidden from us, but there is plenty more.
Happily we have a mole in PCS Finance, so we hope to bring you information (a bit like those in the Daily Telegraph about MPs) in the lead up to the NEC elections about expenses paid to senior reps and full timers.
Member 4
Thursday 20th January 2011
PCS is skint. The unions deficit is not clear but it will be close to £1,000,000.
There are plans to cut staffing and to cut pensions for staff. The expenses of the NEC are coming under scrutiny.
This all true because PCS needs to save money so it can afford to campaign against the Government's plan to ...err... address the deficit, to oppose the Goverments plans to cut staffing and pensions. Not forgeting the scandal of expenses paid to MPs. We can only affors this by cutting our own staff and slashing the deficit in the union's pension scheme!
Ironic or what?
Member 4
Tuesday 11th January 2011
I read the Daily Mail today. I didn't buy it I hasten to add. They had a somewhat hysterical headline about strikes affecting the the royal wedding. Mark Serwotka was quoted as saying strikes were 'inevitable'. Quite why they picked on Mark, when the story was about the tube and British Airways is not clear. Perhaps because Mark is now playing the 'rentaquote' role, just like, for example, Nick Winterton, the Tory MP who the mail used to contact for a quote about benefit scroungers, imigration or whatever.
Need a militant quote from a union leader in the right wing press? Call Serwotka, he'll say something we can use! Being the 'Nick Winterton' of the trade union movement Mark? Not good!
Member 4
Sunday 9th January 2011
There was a fascinating programme on BBC Scotland called 'The Rise and Lies of Tommy Sheridan'. It is now available to watch on You Tube. I offer no opinion on the guilt or otherwise of Tommy. The facts speak for themselves. You should watch it.
However members of PCS have an interest given the influence of Tommy's friends on this union. One prominent NEC member gave evidence in court, in effect providing Tommy with an albi for when he was accused of being elsewhere. Whether Tommy is right or wrong, the fact is that either the SSP members who were witnesses for the prosecution were lying or those for the defence were. Either way, a substantial number of self proclaimed Socialists put either their loyaly or hatred for a leading figure above the truth. Worth remebering at election time.
Speaking of elections, there is one this Thursday in Oldham. You can never tell with the electorate, especially given the background to the elecion, but I do hope that the Liberal Democrats get the bloody nose they so richly deserve.
Oh, and the ballot on CSCS closes this week. The outcome is a forgone conclusion, but the turnout and the margin of the YES votes will be the real things to watch.
Member 4
Tuesday 4th January 2011
I came home today to my ballot paper at last. As suspected, it is very well designed package, seeking to get a membership endorsement of the second ballot question, endorsing the PCS campaign for it's 'alternative' to the cuts.
As a union we can probably unite upon our rejection of the new CSCS terms. However PCS is a little economical with the truth when it says on it's website that the Government has 'tabled' changes to the scheme. Actually it has done a great deal more, it has passed the changes to the scheme into law. The changes are now a fact.
Let us hope that PCS can follow its proposed course of action in mounting a legal challenge.
However we don't need a ballot for that, and that isn't the object of the exercise. It is the all important second question that matters.
The second question seeks an endorsement of the PCS campaign. Brief sketchy details are given of that alternative (that there is enough uncollected tax to not only clear the deficit, but to fund more spending!) However this is not spelt out in the 'Aims of the Campaign'.
There is no doubt that there will be a rejection of CSCS reform, and a YES vote on the second question on the back of that. However PCS members don't belive the Socialist Party inspired idea that there is no deficit. Cleverly constructed ballot papers may produce the required result despite what people really think, but it provides no foundation for challenging the attacks on public services.
Member 4
Saturday 1st January 2011
If 2010 is remembered for anything, it will be for finally revealing the true nature of the Liberal Democrats. In the North of the UK, they've posed as the gritty socialist alternative to Labour. In the South as the free market champions, or as 'compassionate' Conservatives. Who can forget the fiasco in Tower Hamlets, where they allegedly forged election leaflets which proported to have come from their opponents.
On tution fees, safe in the knowledge (they thought!) of never actually having to deliver, they promised not to increase fees. They promised not to increase VAT, and they suggested that public sector cuts should take place over time, so as to reduce the danger to the economy. For the chance of getting a nice share of power and a a ministerial salary they've happily renaged on every single promise.
And they are still at it! St. Vince Cable, only one of many Lib Dems caught in private telling people who were their constituents that really THEY don't support this nasty coalition. Tell people what they want to hear and they just might vote for you.
You may not know that we have a Liberal Democrat on our NEC too. Happy to be elected with support from the hard left, anything to be elected.
There is a stark choice now for UK Government. Vote Liberal and you get...er... whoever will pay their wages! So Labour now present the only alternative.
Aha! (I hear my Left Unity chums say). What we need really is for PCS to support 'trade union candidates' in national elections. Unfortunatley it ignores the simple fact that these candidates will be from the fringes. The RMT backed candidates in the Euro elections and General Elections were composed of ex-Militants and other such Socialist Party riff raff. In the Euro elections, they polled less than the BNP.
No, Ed Millibands Labour Party now offer our best hope of a better UK Government. They aren't going to usher in a Government which will increase civil service pay by 100%. But they will bring a Government which is passionate about good public services. The last Labour Government gave us the Pensions Deal (shortly to be ripped up). Many civil servants will, even now, retire with their pensions intact thanks to the last Labour Government.
Trade Unionists should work with the Labour party for the return of a Labour Governmnent. PCS should affiate to the Labour Party to seek to weild real influence. That is the way forward for PCS.
In my opinion ;-)
Member 4
Monday 20th December 2010
Ballot paper, ballot paper. Where art thou ballot paper?
Timing is all, as they say in the acting profession. Has anybody had a ballot paper, so that they can cast their vote in this pointless ballot?
Member 4
Thursday 16th December 2010
I was out on yet another festive get together yesterday and was talking to PCS activist of no particular faction. He recounted a story when he was on several months strike (as a civil servant). Each morning he attended the picket line, and did many things to keep the strike going. He was therefore somewhat astounded to be called a ‘scab’ sometime later by a colleague whom he met at PCS conference. Angrily he pointed out his support for the strike and his hard work. Where do you get ‘scab’ from? ‘You didn’t join the Broad Left’ came the answer. For those who don’t know, when the Socialist Party was called ‘Militant’, Left Unity was called ‘Broad Left’. The strike was the 1980’s shiftworkers dispute in Newcastle. The union was the CPSA.
It was very pertinent, because I’m told that the first calls of ‘scab’ have been made against 4TM supporters. People who have never crossed a picket line in their lives, but are ‘scabs’ because they are voting NO in a democratic ballot which asks whether or not they endorse PCS’s ‘alternative’ to the cuts. It reminded me also of a time when I once spoke publicly in support of housing policy in my home town which directly addressed supporting council tenants who were racially harassed. Some of the local BNP supporters got hold of my phone number and phoned to threaten me.
I detect little difference between the bigotry of the far Left and the far Right. When the Left, rightly, attack the bigotry, intolerance, threats and bullying of the right, they conveniently ignore that the very same tactics are frequently used by the Left.
An inconvenient truth, if ever there was one.
Member 4
Saturday 11th December 2010
Oh my head! Christmas do last night. A gathering of civil servants and all they could talk about was the PCS ballot? Err no.
First today a correction. In my last bulletin I stated that Rob Williams (NEC member) had written an article in The Socialist. I've been told that there is another Rob Williams in PCS and in the Socialist Party. The other guy wrote the article, so sorry.
Currently Left Unity are very excited about 'differing opinions' (aparently) within the 4TM group on the NEC. The idea that a group of people might have minds of their own is hard for them to understand. The concept that 4TM are seking a debate and an exchange of views about the current ballot is beyond their comprehension.
It is no co-incidence that the PCS leadership support regimes such as those in Cuba or Venezuela. (Some even get misty eyed about the old Soviet Union). Regimes where there are no free trade unions or rights to free speech. Its worth paying attention to this because this is the real vision of the great Socialist utopia.
Member4
Wednesday 8th December 2010
The capacity of the far left to be divided amongst itself is legendary, and was famously satirised in the wonderful ‘Life of Brian’. The People’s Front of Judea saw the enemy not as the Romans but as the Judean People’s Front. A similar war is raging between the Socialist Party (front organisation ‘National Shop Steward’s Network’) and the Socialist Worker’s Party (front organisation ‘The Right to Work Campaign’). Both organisations aspire to be the lead organisation in the great fightback. Some insane ramblings appear on the Socialist Party website and the Socialist Worker’s Party website, arguing about the deckchairs on this particular Titanic. However it illustrates just how PCS activists and resources are being sucked into these obscure organisations. Rob Williams, a prominent NEC member and Socialist Party member joins John McInally in waving the SP flag.
It matters because this is what drives the PCS leadership, not what the members want. A key aim of the National Shop Stewards Network is…standing TU candidates in national elections. Now where have we heard that before?
The policy commands no support, let alone the knowledge of most PCS members. Most PCS members would be shocked to read about how their leaders spend much of their time. But to return to yesterdays point. A YES vote in the second ballot question will be used to suggest that PCS members are supportive of this insanity.
PS The PCS NEC has discussed the 4TM leaflet and are apparently a bit upset. GOOD!!!!
Member 4
Tuesday 7th December 2010
'A positive ballot result will build a firm foundation for the union's campaign, including industrial action, both national or with other unions.'
The quote is from John McInally, Vice President of PCS writing in 'The Socialist' . It makes it crystal clear what this ballot is about. So why not tell the members the truth? The focus of this ballot will be the first question, the one about the CSCS. In tactics straight from Trotsky the second question, the more important one is glossed over. However be in no doubt. It is the second question that Left Unity are focussed on. Members who rightly vote YES to reject CSCS, will vote YES to the second question without giving it too much thought. But that will be publicised as support for the so called PCS Alternative. That the solution to the deficit is to spend more.
John McInally again. 'The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has indicated it will ballot on pensions next year and PCS will do all it can to coordinate any such action on this or any other issue that represents an attack on our jobs and conditions.'
PCS will do 'all it can' to co-ordinate action on this 'or any other issue'. There you have it. It isn't about a particular issue, or a careful campaign with a clear objective. It's find a strike (any old strike will do) and join it!
Member 4
Wednesday 30th November 2010
The current chill from the weather is as nothing compared with the chill wind that will blow in the direction of those who dare not to do as they are told by the PCS leadership. Well, nothing new there.
I shall be voting YES and NO in this ballot. I shall vote YES to the proposal to reject the CSCS. I doubt we will get very far but I resent my accrued rights being taken from me. PCS should mount a legal challenge to the principle of stealing accrued rights. Individual civil servants who get a crap redundancy deal should do likewise.
I shall vote NO to the second question. I oppose the cuts, and I'll be demonstating next March on the proper TUC demonstration. I'll be working for the return of a Labour Government too, and I make no apology folks! Everybody knows that the deficit has to be cut, but it can done slowly. The welfare state was established in 1946 by the Labour Government at a time of great austerity and post war debt. Cutting debt does not mean destroying the poor!
However the PCS 'Alternative' is a joke. No cuts? Not a single consultant, not a single quango who pays a bigger salary than the PM? Indeed we should spend even more (apparently). The entire deficit can be paid off using uncollected tax?
It is fantasy, revolutionary fantasy at that. Plays no part in grown up debate.
Member 4
Monday 22nd November 2010
As an avid reader of the Socialist Party's website I was interested to read their take on the election of Len McCluskey as General Secretary of UNITE. Len is to the left, but he is by no means a follower of Trotsky. However the Socialist Party hopes that he will follow the example set by PCS. Not good advice! More on PCS's financial crisis on this site soon.
Meanwhile in Ireland. What gets forgotten is that Ireland swallowed an austerity package much worse than that faced by the UK. It failed to solve the problem and choked the economy by taking money out of peoples pockets. George Orsbourne, who now proposes that the UK bail out the Irish Banks, once proclaimed Ireland as a shining example of a modern economy. Does nobody learn anything in politics?
Member 4
Monday 15th November 2010
It seems Birmingham is getting rid of loads of it's police force. Apparently it isn't a problem because they'll stop them spending time 'filling in forms'. So there will be just as many police, but less need for trivial stuff like keeping proper records, making sure people are treated fairly. Meanwhile in Ireland, having made loads of cuts, their recession has just got deeper. Seems to prove the Labour Party's point really.
Back in PCS, though you may not have realised it, we are having a 'consultation' with the members over cuts. It seems quite likely that our leaders want to have a strike of some kind soon. Trouble is that they are spoiled for choice over issues to fight over but there is little support for strikes in the offices. We do seem to be struggling with the same small politics while great events pass us by.
Member 4
Monday 8th November 2010
Sunday's news was interesting. Much attention was focussed on the Government's plans to compel some long term unemployed to do voluntary work.
However what caught my eye was a feature in the Observer about an (unnamed) London council's plans to reduce it's services. The Government has chosen to reduce local authority funding. It is an old trick. It means that they can blame local councils for the cuts imposed centrally.
The unnamed council will reduce services to old people, reduce street lighting, cut lesisure centres, close libraries, reduce street cleaning, close breakfast /after school clubs and reduce road repairs. To name but a few. Cuts on such a scale will impact on everyone, but the pain will take time to be felt.
The alliance to fight back will need to be very broad and very inclusive. There will be countless users of services, community groups impacted.
The PCS Leadership however seems to see this as a trade union issue and a stick to beat the TUC with. It's contribution is to demand a national demonstation in December. That is three weeks away! No doubt what will happen is that PCS will support a small demonstation of paper sellers. Perhaps Bob Crow might even make it along! However it will be an irrelevant side show to the real fights ahead.
Member4
Saturday 6th November 2010
One of the perks of running this website is the opportunity to start what will be a highly personal blog. From here I will be offering my own personal perspective on the current events within the PCS (and further afield). Updates on this blog may be irregular but they will (hopefully) offer a different view to the mass nonsense published by Left Unity. Over time I may even get the hang of changing the font and checking the spelling. But it will take time.
It is a shame that there is so little conversation about PCS on the web these days. Bulletins from PFL offer an interesting alternative, but they are a little infrequent. The PCS Indie had gone rapidly downhill and has got worse since it became riddled with adverts. No matter.
Well, this is a test page. Born from the fact that I can't go out tonight, there is nout on telly and theres too many fireworks going off for me to go to sleep. Some more comment on PCS and its inablity to grasp the current political landscape very soon.
Member4