International Socialists (CWI Scotland)

The UK wide PCS strike was hugely supported at offices and workplaces across Scotland. Area after area reported 80%-90% plus support among union members for the action. Some were as high as 100%, with PCS workplaces empty of workers, except a handful of non-union members. Socialist Party Scotland members visited many picket lines across the country, including in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Dundee. Reports below

Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members have voted by huge majorities to reject the government's final offer on pensions which is intended to make us pay more, get less and work longer. Members also voted for national coordinated action with other unions to win a fair settlement.

Yesterday’s magnificent strike action by hundreds of thousands of public sector workers across the UK was an inspiration. Although in Scotland only the PCS was taking strike action, their members responded in a way that was unprecedented. A full report of the action in England and Wales involving the PCS and three teacher's unions can be read at http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/12329/30-06-2011/reports-massive-30-june-public-sector-pensions-strike

The government is attempting to steal £2.8 billion from public sector pensions in Britain. This is a brutal act of class warfare directed against millions of mainly low-paid workers. Attempting to prosecute it is a tiny ruling elite, who despise the public sector and those who deliver the vital services that bind our communities together.

PCS has a strong left leadership, including members of the Socialist Party, that challenges the way trade unions act and fight on behalf of their members.

Tracy Edwards, PCS young members' network, personal capacity

This left leadership set up a young members' network in 2004 which has grown in strength and organisation in recent years. This year, more young workers were engaged in main discussions around our conference agenda.

In a really excellent conference, the civil service union PCS, under its socialist leadership which was re-elected for the seventh time in succession, mapped out its strategy for the next 12 months.

Bill Mullins

The PCS's 300,000 members face an unprecedented perioad of attacks from the New Labour government. These attacks were outlined by Janice Godrich in her presidential address: "With a public sector deficit of £175 billion, the government is preparing massive attacks on the public sector, with some £15 billion of planned cuts on top of the £15 billion already achieved under 'efficiency' savings". 

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union conference met against a background of the worst recession since the 1930s and in the wake of a budget statement that set out the government's strategy to "deal with the economic crisis" they themselves have created. This is in spite of the fact that this government has sold off more than the Tories ever did.

John McInally, PCS vice president, personal capacity

The anger of delegates at this attempt to lay the responsibility of paying for the crisis at our door was best reflected in motions calling for complete opposition to cuts and privatisation.

But these motions also set out a comprehensive programme to tackle the failure of the unrestrained free market, including the expansion of public services and the nationalisation of banking and finance under democratic control, accountability and scrutiny with full protection of the workers in that sector and compensation for shareholders only on the basis of proven need.

The motions also called for the nationalisation of the major utilities, including transport, and a major programme of public works. There were demands that we need a planned economy in the interests of the many, not the few.

The agreement on pay that the union made with the government before Christmas, which was designed to put more money into members' pockets, has been tested and has failed. The conference agreed a process of consultation with the members on a strategy to take forward the campaign, which will begin in the early summer.

In a genuinely historic debate, conference voted overwhelmingly to launch a consultation with branches and members on supporting trade union candidates in elections.

This move was not seen as some academic exercise but a vital initiative to effectively back up our campaigns on the industrial front with that of the political front.

Everything has changed with the passage of this motion - it means a major trade union, along with the transport union RMT, has now made it clear that a radical change is required. Standing candidates against those who represent the interests of the bosses rather than the workers must be a core part of that change.