Public and Commercial Services Union

A transcript of the video introduction to the annual conference for PCS members.

Voiceover:

PCS conference is one of the most significant dates in the union’s calendar.

Here delegates debate and vote on motions put to conference by branches to determine the policy of the union. Conference also considers the union's Annual Report, Financial Statement and Organising Strategy, as well as electing members of various Committees and delegations.

Where this involves major policy matters or changes to the principle rules a question will also be put to the whole membership via a ballot.

Any PCS member can stand for election as a delegate, however you need to understand conference procedure so in this film we will speak to delegates and learn more about the various elements of conference.

90 members each year have the opportunity to attend conference and see how it works; they attend a series training sessions. Understanding conference courses are also run by regional offices as part of the regional training programme

Voxpop - Trevor Smith, Delegate, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

You can come to conference just as an observer. You don’t have to speak, it was just I was asked to speak – I could have said no to it and I thought why not. That’s what I’m here for, that’s what I’m on the branch for.

Group conferences

Voxpop - Lorna Nelson-Homiah, Delegate, Home Office

Group conference discusses the issues affecting your group nationally, but not the union nationally.

Voxpop - Fran Heathcote, Delegate, Department for Work and Pensions

The thing with group conferences is the issues are fairly specific to the area we work in and the work we do for the department. Whereas with national conference the issues are much broader and cover quite a wide range of topics, not all of them particularly about the place where you work.

Voxpop - Stephen Farrelly, Delegate, Identity and Passport Service

Our overall group is recognised as one of the smallest under the umbrella of PCS. In particular our own branch will probably have one hundred and twenty members. I think it’s very important that smaller groups should be treated as equal to the larger groups to make sure they have their voice heard at conference.

Voxpop - Jane Aitchison, Group president, Department for Work and Pensions

At the group conference we talk about all of the business to do with our department and our department exclusively.

National conference

Voxpop - Mark Serwotka, General secretary

Well the conference is one of the most important events of the year because it’s where we set the policies on behalf of our members. I think it’s vital because people can get to meet those from across the union from different employers and it can be quite inspirational actually, to meet people who are working hard in different parts of the UK, and coming together they can not only meet each other but they can collectively decide the best way forward for the members they represent.

Voiceover:

The rules and procedures used at national conference are similar to those used at group conferences. In overall charge of proceedings is the president of PCS, for group conferences it is usually the president of that group.

Sitting on either side of the President are the other senior full time officers and other members of the national executive committee. It is the responsibility of NEC members to ensure that policies voted on at conference are carried through in the forthcoming year.

Last but by no means least are the delegates. By debating and voting on motions delegates help to shape the union’s policies for the year ahead.

A healthy debate ensures that every issue is properly aired with all points of view being given the chance to be expressed.

You sit in your department block because if you’re called to speak the president can see the department you’re from. This ensures that debates are representative of views from across the whole union.

As a delegate to conference it is your job to represent the views of your members. That means you must listen carefully to the debates, but these can be hard to follow if you’re not familiar with conference procedure. So let’s look at how delegates can join in.

Debating the motions

Voiceover:

First to speak is the mover of the motion. The mover comes from the branch that submitted the motion. They have a maximum of five minutes in which to put across their arguments and aims to present the most compelling case for delegates to support the motion.

Voxpop - Phil Taylor, Delegate, Revenue and Customs

If you want to second a motion you go to the branch that moved the motion and ask if you can second it for you. If they want you to second it they say yeah or no.

Voxpop - Michael MacDonald, Delegate, Revenue and Customs

When you go out and you network, you’re campaigning you’re canvassing for support for your motion other branches will say how did you vote because we’re all mandated, so they would ask you – are you supporting my motion? If you’re saying you’re supporting it they may say would you like to second my motion. You may also be interested in a motion and approach another branch and say I’m really interested. This motion for instance I have a motion that is very similar but it’s not on the agenda but I would like to second your motion and that’s how it happens.

Voiceover:

The seconder, like the speakers that come after them has just three minutes to make their mark. They will add weight to the argument and will offer delegates new reasons to vote in favour of the motion.

Voxpop - Chris Hurley, Delegate, Health and Safety Executive

If you can prepare, practice and time yourself so you don’t go over and keep it simple I think those are the key elements really.

Voxpop - Michael Kavanagh, Delegate, Land Registry

Pretty much bullet points in relation to the speech.

Voiceover:

As you can see this delegate is delivering his speech from notes. Even the most experienced delegates tend to do this. Rehearsing what you want to say and making the best use of time allowed is essential if you want to make a successful speech.

Voxpop - Chris Hurley, Delegate, Health and Safety Executive

I was very conscious and I did time myself and it worked out quite well because the amber light came on which meant I had a minute left and that was when I started to say ‘to sum up’.

Voiceover:

Delegates are giving a helping hand with their time-keeping from lights situated on each podium. When they start their speech the green light is switched on and the clock begins to tick.

60 seconds from their allowed time an amber one comes on. When they run out of time a red light comes on. If a delegate continues much after this they can expect a stern word from the chair.

When a seconder has finished the motion is open to debate from the floor. Those wishing to speak must first catch the chair’s eye as it’s their responsibility to select speakers.

Voxpop - Lorna Nelson-Homiah, Delegate, Home Office

The main benefits for me I feel is to be part of the democratic process. PCS is very democratic, all members have the opportunity to put forward a motion and all members have the opportunity to vote on those motions. They elect who the delegates are who are going to represent them. I think it’s really important that members have a part in that democratic process.

Voxpop - Kevin Greenway, Joint group President, Ministry of Justice

We wouldn’t want a free-wheeling debate which only saw two or three issues settled and that’s the balance that has to be struck so that we deal with the broader issues that our membership has.

Voxpop - Janice Godrich, National President

Some of the best motions actually are ones that come up because the members have gone to their rep and said look this isn’t right in this office or I don’t like the fact that my employers doing this in a certain way. The rep will talk the member through how to submit a motion to their general meeting, how that then gets debated at conference and if its carried then the executive will try its best to implement that motion in order to make that change.

Voiceover:

When delegates are making their speeches they may be interrupted by what is known as a point of order. This happens when a delegate thinks the speaker has infringed the rules of the debate. There are two types of points of order. The use of racist, sexist or abusive language or the most often, that the rules of the union have been broken.

It’s up to the chair to decide whether the point of order is valid, but you can rely on the chair to ensure fair play, especially if you’re a new delegate.

Voxpop - Janice Godrich, National President

My primary role is to chair the conference and that means that once conference has adopted its agenda, then to chair the debates to make sure there’s balanced debate and if there is opposition to the resolution of the motion that’s bought in fairly early in the proceedings so that people can answer that opposition, to take votes on motion and really try to ensure that the conference is allowed the time to debate as many resolutions as possible. We place member’s voices at the heart of what we do, this conference is a prime example of that, but we also hold regular forums and we hold meetings with members wherever possible because its only by everyone coming out of that process feeling that they have had an equal opportunity to feed into decision that people are then united behind them and carry them forward.

Voiceover:

Near the end of the debate someone from the top table will present the views of the national executive committee. They will explain what has already been done about the issue under discussion and give the executive committee’s position on whether to support or reject the motion. Of course delegates do not have to follow this advice and sometimes vote against the executive committee. Top table speaker
Shot of conference

The last person to speak is the original mover of the motion. They are the only person to speak twice on the same motion in what’s known as a right of reply they will address the points raised during the debate and present a summary of the key reasons for supporting their motion.

Voxpop - Fran Heathcote, Delegate, Department for Work and Pensions

Our members generally give the delegates a listen and decide mandate and instruct them to listen to the debate hear the arguments and put forward by the mover and seconder and see if there is opposition and then they have to trust them to form a decision based on the debate they have heard.

Voiceover:

After the right of reply comes the vote. If carried the motion will be sent to the national executive committee along with the other motions passed at conference who will decide how to deal with it.

Conference procedures

Voxpop - Michael Kavanagh, Delegate, Land Registry

Standing orders committee are responsible for the entire business of conference really setting out in which order the motions will be debated, timing of guest speakers, the timing of each particular section on the agenda and dealing with where to place the emergency motions.

Voxpop - Sandra Reffold, Observer, Revenue and Customs

Within the program for conference, whether its group or national is an allotted amount of time and if the time runs out then any motion that hasn’t been taken the guillotine falls and they don’t get heard on the conference floor, but they can be brought back in the guillotine section at the end of conference and then they will put out some of those guillotined that will be debated.

More than just a conference

Voxpop - Mark Serwotka, General secretary

I do about three or four fringe meetings each of the days and again I think it is important to be seen to get around whether it’s on equality, or whether like we’ll be doing later on black members’ issues, whether it’s about privatisation or about the learning agenda. All of our fringe meetings are a very useful and informal way often to meet people and chat about how best to progress the issues for the union.

Voxpop - Andrew Freemantle, Delegate, Tribunal Service

Certainly it is great to meet people from other branches and other groups and find out what’s going on in other parts of the union and to be able to take their experiences and views and take them into account at conference, certainly in terms to be able to build up the networks for future campaigning on the key issues or for our members.

Voxpop - Kevin Greenway, National Executive Committee member

Of course there are stalls that people can pick literature up and take it away, read it at their leisure and hopefully be inspired.

Voxpop - Fran Heathcote, Delegate, Department for Work and Pensions

There’s a really good social side to conference. Every night one or other of the groups will organise a social event to bring delegates together. It’s a really good opportunity to meet people, to share experiences and to be hones to meet people at conference you seen again year after year and its really good to have that network of people that you get together with.

Voxpop - Liv Thomas, Delegate, Insolvency Service

The importance of the social aspect is about networking, meeting members from other branches finding out what they’re doing, how they organise and making contacts.

Voxpop - Jane Aitchison, Delegate, Department for Work and Pensions

I brought my child to conference as a six month old baby and I really was quite nervous about that, but I was very involved in the union at that point and so coming to conference was really important to me. It isn’t just a crèche, there are other options available. The crèche suits me, but it might not suit everyone. Other people might have needs at home or other needs when they come to conference and I think the doors are always open in the union to have those discussions with people about what those needs are and always trying to find the solution to those barriers that might stop people wanting to get involved as fully as they want to.

Voiceover:

Being a delegate and representing the views of your branch and your members is an important duty and for most delegates is a very rewarding and worthwhile experience that brings them back year after year.

What you can get out of PCS conference?

Voxpop - Phil Woodward, Delegate, Tribunal Service

I just want to make things better for workers at a local level and in a wider sense and that is a very general point. I want to fight for members interests on all the issues that bother them – the pay, job security, pensions.

Voxpop - Geri Noble, Delegate, Revenue and Customs

I would recommend that any rep comes to conference to be a delegate. The support that is in place is great and the more experienced delegates are always on hand and the training for delegates is great. I would recommend that any rep gets involved at conference.

Voxpop - Fran Heathcote, Delegate, Department for Work and Pensions

I would say that anyone should try to get themselves along to conference – its where our policies are made, its where the decision making takes place, its how the union makes decisions about how its going to take work forward. I think that anyone who wants to play a part in the union should be encouraged to go to conference. I love conference, I think its so important to hear how decisions are made and the arguments that are put forward by various groups.

Voxpop - Janice Godrich, National President

For people to come down perhaps relatively experienced in terms of union activity and to see the breadth of support that the policies have in the conference hall I think really does motivate them to go back and get more involved.

Voxpop - Mark Serwotka, General secretary

I’d say switch off the DVD and join in straight away because we always need more people. The more people we have who are active the more we will be representative of all of our members and the stronger we will be. So join PCS and get active today.