PCS conference debates way forward for pay struggle
Delegates from the civil servants union have been meeting in Brighton this week for the annual PCS conference. The questions of the pay campaign and the Labour Party dominated the discussion.
Industrial news
Labour energy nationalisation plans face big business backlash
The recent announcement by Labour that they would re-nationalise the country’s electricity and gas networks has been met with fierce resistance by the bosses. These fat cats must not receive a penny of compensation.
PCS AGS election: Baugh defeated by John Moloney
Results of the internal elections inside PCS were announced last week. Independent Left candidate John Moloney has won the race for the position of Assistant General Secretary. Now the left must unite for the battles ahead.
Labour movement must fight for a real living wage
Recent figures show that nearly half-a-million minimum wage workers are being underpaid, as the bosses seek to dodge legal pay requirements. Labour and the unions must organise a fightback against this scandal.
UCU general secretary election: left must unite against the right
Lecturers and academic staff in the UCU are currently voting for a new general secretary for the union. But a failure by the left to unite around one candidate might allow the right wing to steal a victory.
Lawyers of the world, unite!
Important steps are being taken to unionise workers in the legal sector, where conditions have been viciously attacked as a result of Tory austerity. Legal workers should unite with the rest of the labour movement to fight the cuts.
Unanimous support for Clause 4 at CWU union conference
Delegates to the postal workers’ union have unanimously backed the call to bring back Clause 4. This is an important step forward for the campaign to restore Clause 4.
CWU conference: vote to bring back Clause 4
Delegates to the CWU policy conference this Sunday will be discussing an important motion calling for Labour to restore Clause 4 – the party’s commitment to public ownership. We urge all delegates to support this resolution.
Government outsourced workers strike for living wage
Outsourced catering staff in the PCS union are fighting for decent pay and demanding to be brought back in-house. Coordinated action across the trade unions is needed to end outsourcing and the scandal of low pay.
College lecturers out on strike in West Midlands
UCU members in further education have taken action over pay, as part of a fight against austerity and attacks. This must be linked to a political struggle – against the Tories and for a socialist Labour government.
PCS: How to build the left – a lesson in damaging prestige politics
The contest for assistant general secretary of PCS, the civil servants’ union, provides important lessons in the dangers of sectarianism and putting individual prestige before the interests of trade union members.
Labour, Brexit, and the far-right threat
Some leading left-wingers have called on Corbyn to support a ‘People’s Vote’ in order to curtail the rise of the far right. But reversing Brexit will do nothing to undermine the fascists. Instead, we need bold socialist demands.