Time for branches to get ballot ready
In her latest column for Activate, Fran explains how reps' current priority must be organising and campaigning work to get ballot-ready.
At the first meeting of the new national executive committee last month, it was agreed that – in line with conference decisions – our priority must be to develop our organising and campaigning work with members and branches across the union to get ballot ready.
PCS is clear that, should further talks fail to deliver satisfactory progress, a campaign of industrial action will be required to shift the government's position.
We will always seek to bargain and negotiate with the employer to get the best deal possible, but sometimes industrial action is necessary to nudge the employer in the right direction and achieve a fair result for members.
The facilities management dispute has been a textbook example of that. Some of our lowest paid members – working as cleaners, security guards and catering staff – have taken an extended period of strike action over pay, zero hour contracts and sick pay.
They got organised, recruited and delivered sustained strike action that brought not just the outsourcing companies to the negotiating table, but the government too.
For the first time, the government accepted that as the contracting party they had a responsibility for the terms and conditions of workers on outsourced contracts. Those members have now won increased pay and increased holiday, and for the first time company sick pay from day one of absence, full maternity and paternity pay, and paid bereavement leave.
This is a transformational victory for those members – and now paves the way for further talks on our national objectives of coherence and insourcing, to secure future improvements.
We know that there are big issues across the civil service from pay, to jobs to hybrid working and mandatory office attendance.
If some of our lowest paid members on the least secure contracts can get organised and win, then so can any group. In this edition you’ll find case studies of how reps have boosted membership, recruited reps and won victories.
Be inspired and get active: winning is contagious.