Balloting will begin in ? for the Committee of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS). PCS 258,000 members work jobs, pay and conditions, under New Labour as under the Tories. the conference that will follow in May, are only the second chance since the union was established in March 1998. with a constituto that supped away many of the democratic rights that members unions, CPSA and PTC. Members elect a National a president, four vice-presidents and 40 ordinary members The last elections, two years ago, delivered a majority for a coalition of two right-wing groups, the (exCPSA) Moderates and (ex-PTC) Membership First.
These groups had presided over a long senes or cereais Tor Cil servants under the Tories, with 250.000 obs lost through cutbacks or privatisation, the introduction of pertormance related Pt and condime New Labour has stuck rigidiy to thousands of jobs in areas like the Passport Agency and the Department of National Savinas. and refusing to abandon performance pay or to restore civl service-wide bay and conditons.
The only diference is that its coatinglof ideological mystification, in the form of the supposed 'partand departments on one side and The PCS leadership has enthusiastically endorsed this approach. cessors attacked Tory policies but now it barely makes even muted criticisms of what are essentially It is currentiy celebrating the apparent legitimation of the approach by members, who have recently voted to endorse a national Partnershio Acreement between the Government and unions.
Behind the warm words of this document is a union commitment not to challenge Government polcy - whatever its impact on memThe 20% turnout in this ballot suggests not enthusiasm for the NEC's approach, but a cynical aoste tonst prompied by the increasin: diversence Dereen members own experiences and the It is essential to break through members' disaffection with the union's democratic processes. but this can only be done if the left demonstrates corvincingly the link leadership and the reversal of past defeats in the workplace. incumbent leadership is the Left almost all socialist currents in the i contins many tine actists who have fought determined camments, but it has not yet OFFICIA strongholds to provide a clear proect capable of winning all those who oppose the right wing.
Two specific problems it faces are the refusal of the centre-left its own expulsion of activists stood their own candidates in departmental elections, in opposito government policies.
But for all its weaknesses, Left Unity is the only real alterathe to the right-wing at national level: all of PCS' current misleaders should work hard, over the next month, for a Left Unity victory.
Outlook