work for industrial relations imposed by Thatcher's anti-union laws, and concentrate on lobbying politicians to moderate the worst excesses of government policy.
And while a series of mergers meant that, by 1998 one union - PCS - representea legacy. the majority of civil servants, there was nO demol W hile others on translate this unity into the left have industrial strength. Instead, compromised the bureaucrats rewrote the with the constitution so as to make bureaucracy themselves as unaccountable and eschewed strike action to members as possible. In favour of HOIC Any hope that life would 'respectable' methods, he has become easter under New remained true to his workLabour was swiftly dispelled. ing-class background and his Performance Related Pay socialist beliefs. (PRP) and the delegation of An activist from the time pay and conditions he joined the civil service as departments and agencies a teenager, years ago, stayed. The freeze on the Mark has led strikes in every public sector pay remained branch which he nas in place, as did the obliga- belonged. His integrity and tion to consider outsourcing commitment have earned the in order to deliver efficiency grudging respect even of savings. political opponents.
The only difference was These are qualities he will that now it was argued there need when he assumes the was no ideological predispo- general secretaryship after a sition in favour of privatisa- year-long handover period. tion: only an open process to Although the main socialist achieve 'best value'. grouping, Left Unity, perDespite the fact that this formed creditably in the last has still meant thousands of NEC elections, they have jobs being hived off to the only five seats on the 46private sector, the leadership member body, while the two of PCS has accepted the gov- right-wing factions the ernment's line uncritically. Moderates and Membership Whereas they greeted the Rirst . have nineteen seats Tories' measures such as PFI each (two independents and by warning branches of the a Stalinist making up the difdangers and instructing ference). them to organise campaigns The antagonism between (albeit with no support from the two right-wing factions the centre), they have now has enabled Left Unity to become tame propagandists hold the balance of power, for the New Labour line. forming ad hoc majorities on Branches are expected to specific issues with one of co-operate enthusiastically the other groups (usually with employers in introduc- Membership First). ing changes in the work- Once the Moderates get place, as these are now seen their jubilation in the context of a new Lanning's defeat, however, regime of 'social partnership' there is a danger that the two supposedly the nighest factions will bury their difform of industrial relations, ferences, recognising that with a complete harmony of they have a common interest interests between employer in holding back Serwotka and worker. and working against a resurThis line has been codified gence of the left. at the national level by the It is therefore vital that the signing of a Partnership left demonstrates the singleAgreement between the mindedness necessary to win unions and the Cabinet a majority in the 2002 NEC Office. Among other (hings, The this denies the unions the ast begin now Tant to oppose governaicit policies sanctified by here are a number toral mandate - even if these of lessons to ha threaten the interests of their learnt from members! Serwotka's 11CMark Serwotka represents a complete break with this Firstly, many activists -