Public and Commercial Services Union

Being green

Assistant general secretary Chris Baugh opened the afternoon session of the second day of conference by presenting the union’s ‘Greening PCS’ document, and moving motion A115.

He pointed out that there was “plenty of government advice and targets” about tackling climate change, but little action from the government as an employer.

“We have a big responsibility in holding employers to account,” he said. “Part of that has to be to argue for green reps with statutory powers.”

Supporting the motion, Lewis Bevan of HMRC Northants, pointed out that his department’s office closure programme is resulting in many members travelling further to work and having to use their cars. “My office is due to close and that will mean 50 to 60 extra cars on the road,” he said.

The motion was passed, meaning motions A117, A118, A119 and A121 were also carried.

Christine Hulme, of DWP West London, moved A116 which called on the union to campaign against plans for a new runway at Heathrow airport.

The motion also called for a campaign for an affordable high speed domestic rail network – as an alternative to short haul flights – and for a joint union campaign to bring the railways back into public ownership.

Christine said: “This is about making a stand and campaigning for alternative forms of transport.”

Despite opposition from Jill Martin, of the Aviation group, delegates voted to pass the motion.

The union’s finances

The next session on finance was introduced by the PCS director of finance Dave Newlyn. Presenting the annual financial report, Dave pointed out that for the first time in many years the union had a small deficit of £37,000, due to loss of membership subscriptions through the massive job cuts programme in the civil service.

Assistant general secretary Chris Baugh, whose role includes being the union’s national treasurer, said this brought into “sharper focus” the importance of building workplace strength and recruitment through our organising work.

Among his list of priorities for the union’s finances for the remainder of 2008 were:

• continuing to prioritise spending in line with bargaining agendas
• continuing to improve budgeting control; publishing a long-term financial plan and
• developing a greater awareness of the financial impact of all the decisions we make.

Chris Baugh then moved EM22 which reaffirmed our commitment to setting up a PCS credit union, but also asked delegates to agree to “explore the benefits of collaboration” between PCS and the Civil Service Benevolent Fund, which had approached us with a suggestion to consider a joint venture.

Seconding the motion, Fran Heathcote, of DWP Northumbria, said the CSBF was looking to set up a fund anyway and it would make sense to co-ordinate the two.

There was opposition to this aspect of the credit union project. While still supporting the credit union, John Virtue, of HMRC Liverpool taxes, said:

“We appreciate the motion only says explore the possibility, but this should be PCS specific.” It would “open the door” for non-members to benefit from the credit union, he added.

The motion was defeated on a card vote, which means the credit union will go ahead without the possibility of CSBF involvement.

A motion to reduce the funding for our Make Your Vote Count campaign by narrowing its focus to marginal constituencies and London parliamentary activity, thereby releasing funds for selective industrial action, was overwhelmingly defeated after some passionate opposition.

Moving A4, Dave Vincent, of MoJ Greater Manchester, asked: “How do we know that our members are using the campaign and it is making a difference?”

In response, Dee Luxford, of HMRC Sussex taxes, said MYVC had engaged her members and got them interested in politics and the union, as well as raised the profile of anti-fascist activity in her area.

Vice president John McInally, for the NEC, opposed the motion saying:

“Make Your Vote Count has been a groundbreaking campaign in getting our message across. It has had a major impact in exposing the divisions within the Labour party with 80% of candidates saying they do not support the government’s policies on job cuts, privatisation and pay.”

Union services

Opening the next section on services and structures, Karen Johnson, of CLG – DfT London, moved motion A135 which called on the NEC to review and assess our current education programme; improve courses for experienced reps; expand the availability of online training; and develop interactive/DVD training courses.

Karen said: “Reps often struggle to balance their full time jobs with union work and end up doing union work in their own time.”

A call for the motion to be remitted was lost and the motion was carried.

HMRC Balliol Park moved motion A136, which instructed the NEC to renegotiate our current arrangement with Thompsons solicitors and enter discussions with other solicitors to find “a more supportive deal”.

The motion referred to a recent employment tribunal case for 58 members denied their right to attend their branch annual meeting, which Thompsons had advised the union against supporting on the basis it had little chance of success. In the event, reps prepared for and took the case in a personal capacity in their own time, and won it.

Vice president Dave Bean, for the NEC, said the case showed that lawyers are fallible and that it is not always possible to predict tribunal outcomes. But he added the NEC was already reviewing all the union's services to members, including legal services, so asked for the motion to be remitted. Delegates rejected his request and passed the motion.

Lifetime achievements

President Janice Godrich then introduced two awards for distinguished life membership. First Janice presented a posthumous award for Rob Leitch, whose early death in 2003 was, she said, “an enormous shock” which left a massive gap.

The award was to “mark the life of an outstanding trade unionist”, she added.

Collecting it, Geraldine Morrison, of DfID, said: “Rob was a kind, caring, witty, fun loving and intelligent person and, more importantly, he was a man of integrity.

“He was a shining example of what a trade unionist should be and he is sorely missed.”

Janice then awarded distinguished life membership to Peter Williams who was instrumental in setting up the General Areas Forum, now called the Public Sector Group, and worked behind the scenes at conference for many years.

Janice said: “Peter has given exceptional service to the union. He retired in the spring after 40 years as a dedicated trade unionist. No one is irreplaceable, but Peter comes very close.”

Accepting the award, Peter said he felt more comfortable being behind the scenes at conference, and paid tribute to head of membership Theresa Busby and her team who arrange conference every year and make sure it runs smoothly.

“This award is a real honour “he added, “it shows the union can recognise those working in the background.”

He told delegates: “The union faces big challenges but the fight will be won by those working away in the background, those of you sitting here.”

Society and economics

Paul Kenneally, of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, moved motion A148 which called for us to step up the campaign to highlight the ill treatment of casual and migrant workers, and to campaign for more resources for the GLA and for the remit of the organisation, set up after the public outcry over the Morecambe Bay cockle pickers tragedy, to be expanded.

Paul reminded delegates that the authority has just 52 staff to license and monitor more than 1,200 gangmasters across the country, and that almost half of these staff are either directors or managers. “We are making an impact but we are only scratching the surface”, he said.

He added that he had heard a recording of a 999 call made by one of the cockle pickers and the only words he could say in English were “sinking, water”.

“That will stay with me for the rest of my life,” Paul said.

After support from vice president Sue Bond, for the NEC, and Emma Boyd, of Defra London branch – who said it was “contemptible” that Defra was failing to properly resource the GLA – the motion was carried.

The final debate of the afternoon was on composite 3, which condemned the DWP and Cabinet Office for allowing two DWP workers to stand as candidates for the BNP in the local elections in May.

One is employed at Tyne View Park in Newcastle and the other at the CSA in Hastings, where management have sacked PCS branch chair Eddie Fleming for carrying out his trade union duties.

Moving the motion, Nigel Sheehan, of DWP East Sussex, said: “PCS has a proud record in fighting fascists in the civil service.”

He contrasted this with management’s willingness to give support to the BNP and its victimisation of Eddie who was democratically elected to represent his colleagues.

DWP president Jane Aitchison seconded the motion, saying: “Last month we were disgusted to find DWP employees were standing for the BNP and sickened to find out that not only did management know but they had actually sanctioned it.”
The motion had the support of deputy general secretary Hugh Lanning, for the NEC, who called for a ban on civil servants standing for far right parties such as the BNP, and it was carried by delegates.