PCS calls on Labour to make things better for working people

Fran was speaking at a Labour Party conference fringe event, organised by the trade union coordinating group TUCG), titled “Can Labour Still Deliver the Change We Need and Stop the Rise of Reform?” It came shortly after the prime minister had delivered his leader’s speech to conference.

Fran said: “He talked about a fork in the road, and I think the real fork in the road is for the Labour Party. They have to decide whether they are going to keep appeasing Reform or whether they are going to start making things better for working people.”

She said that many PCS members are so low paid that they are having to claim benefits.

“Low pay is a huge problem – and we are all paying the price for it: in extra Universal Credit to top-up wages; in extra housing benefit to pay the extortionate rents paid by private landlords; and in lower growth.

“The answer, in the short term at least, is to cap costs. That means rent controls but also capping increases in water bills and energy bills.”

She went on to highlight the progressive policies that PCS has put forward for the government to consider on social security reform, tax justice and safe and secure routes for refugees.

Referring to the latter policy Fran said: “We need to back is to open safe and secure routes for asylum seekers, to end the current policy that leaves desperate people having to get into small boats to claim asylum in the UK. We did it for Ukrainians, we should do it for all asylum seekers.

“And when there is a global refugee crisis we have to explain it and find practical solutions, not pander to hate and division.”

Fran and other speakers including Liverpool MPs Ian Byrne and Kim Johnson, used the occasion to praise PCS members at MyCSP who are taking their thirteenth week of strike action. PCS rep Gary Wheeler was present at the event and gave an update on the dispute, which is over their employer’s refusal to recognise, and negotiate with, PCS.