Monday 8 March 2010

On the PCS Picket Line

How would you like it if your boss unilaterally tore up your employment contract and tried implementing a new one without your consent? Would you roll over or take action? Facing a similar choice, the sections of the civil service represented by the Public Commercial Services union have opted to fight. The dispute's background can be found here.

Brothers S, AH, SF and I did a tour of the picket lines in Hanley this morning to bring solidarity greetings from our UCU branch and the body of proletarian struggle that is North Staffs Trades Council. At the first picket line, PCS activist Brother A told us he was very pleased with the turnout for the strike. Of his workplace of approximately 250 those that had gone in numbered in single figures. Despite many low paid staff working there they were absolutely solid - it was workers on higher grades who did the crossing. This was interesting considering his workplace had been bombarded with anti-strike propaganda from the powers that be.

Matters were slightly different at the next workplace we visited. Though more were out picketing, more workers had gone in. Sister C told me that part of the problem is her department employs more casual workers than the other - it's hard to motivate these workers to strike over changes to terms and conditions when their contracts run out in a couple of months time. Still, there was no excusing some. One non-union worker obviously felt a touch guilty as he crossed the picket line - he tossed a bag of mints to one of the pickets as a means of assuaging his guilt.

I also asked the comrade if younger workers were more likely to go in. After all, trade union traditions have had some difficulty transferring to the generation that grew up under Thatcher and Blair. But thankfully, C thought there was no noticeable difference at all. While the young workers were less likely to be on the picket line, they were no more prone to scabbing than anyone else.

By this time Brother J had brought along the TUC banner which we unfurled and attracted bewildered looks from passersby. After milling around for a little while longer, we nipped up to the next workplace ... only to find the picket line winding down - the last picket was about to leave. She told us out of 150 workers only a handful plus management (who are also PCS
and affected by the same contractual changes) had gone in. The place was open as normal but there would have been very little in the way of a service available.

We were warmly received everywhere we went and we'll be doing it all again tomorrow, but this time we're visiting the last first so we can actually catch some workers. If readers (who aren't striking PCS workers) are able to it's well worth making the effort to support the PCS in this dispute. After all, if management here can unilaterally discard employment contracts without fear, what's stopping other bosses in other industries from following suit? That is what is at stake.

8 comments:

Thoughtful Marxist said...

Well done for supporting! All public sector unions should get behind this because they are next.

Highlander said...

It's always worthwhile contrasting the recourse to legal action available to employees who have had their contracts treated with such disdain with the efforts employers will go to have strike action branded unlawful. The courts will listen to the employer as they can afford the solicitors fees but employees... well, they have to go on strike. See also Fujitu Services approach to pension changes for questionable legality regarding contract changes.

HarpyMarx said...

I was on a two picket lines Old Bailey and Royal Courts of Justice, and overall in London the strike did have an impact on the courts service. Some had to close while some had a very minimal service. Tho' the government are saying, what a surprise, that the strike had no impact. Mark Serwotka was good on C4 News and the central message is that working class people are having to suffer for the crisis.

Anonymous said...

Is PCS a second front for the Tories? It certainly looks like it. The others unions are acting responsibly but the Socialist Party Militant Tendency clique of oddballs who run PCS these days are more than happy to help Cameron out.

Anonymous said...

When was a Militant Tendency formed within the Socialist Party? Are they entryists and will Taffe expel them?

Phil said...

The first anonymous comment is one of the most ridiculous things I've read on this blog in a long time.

Dan said...

Firstly i agree with Phil on the above point....

I was on the picket line of Hull benefit delivery centre, the only fixed term appointment(FTA), and by far the youngest at 25. Many FTAs think this dispute does not effect them but any move to make job cuts easier must be fought as it effects all staff. This, all at a time when the workload is overbearing and no prospect of improvement in unemployment in Hull, or nationwide.

A huge effort must be made to encourage younger members of staff to become active in the trade union movement... this was very apparent over the last couple of days. FTAs also have to utilise the PCS to fight to be taken on permanently for the good of the staff, the DWP and the most importantly the public. This, I imagine, applies across the public sector, which will be under constant attack over the next few years, irrelevant of the hue of the next government as public sector workers are always easy targets for cuts and privatisation.

Dan, JCP worker, once of Stoke SP.

HarpyMarx said...

Another strike has been called on the 19th March. See PCS website.