www.socialistworker.co.
uk
Vote yes for a fightback...
crucial strike ballot
begins on 4 february
E
VERY PCS MEMBER MUST
vote yes in the ballot for
national strikes. The ballot will
run from February 4 to February 25.
The government’s proposed changes
to the Civil Service Compensation
Scheme (CSCS) threatens to tear up
workers’ contractual rights and slash
compensation payments in the event
of redundancy, whether compulsory or
voluntary.
Many workers are looking at a loss of
tens of thousands of pounds—and that
would make job cuts and privatisation
cheaper at a time when we know that all
the main political parties are planning
huge public spending cuts.
All civil service workers would be at
greater risk of redundancy.
But hard-hitting strikes can beat these
plans.
✸Campaign for action
The reaction of PCS members to the
government’s proposals was tested in
a series of workplace meetings held in
September and October.
Over 35,000 members came to 1,000
meetings making it the largest such
exercise the union has carried out.
The overwhelming majority made
it very clear that they supported the
union’s objectives to protect members’
existing entitlements.
More than 80 percent said that
industrial action should be considered
if negotiations did not produce a decent
result.
Right to Work
Conference
●Fight for every job ●Stop
the cuts ●Defend services and
pensions
Speakers include Mark Serwotka,
Tony Kearns, and Jerry Hicks.
Saturday 30 January, Central
Hall, Oldham St, Manchester.
Sign up today at
www.righttowork.org.uk
The views of members were also more confident everyone will be to
made clear in the responses to the take action. That’s why every activist
government’s consultation. needs to throw themselves into the
Some 18,000 comments were sent to campaign, to flood the offices with
the Cabinet Office, the overwhelming material about the attacks, and to hold
majority of which clearly opposed the meetings in every section.
proposed cuts to the scheme. It is now It needs to be a political campaign
crucial that the anger about these cuts is that can appeal to every working
turned into action. person who wants to see services
This is not just a fight for civil protected. The theme should be
service workers. This is an early battle “Why are public services and those
in the government’s war on public who work in them getting the chop
services. The Tories will be completely while the bankers have been handed
united with them in attacking us. billions?”
But many other workers will support This needs to be forced on to the
a fightback over such issues. agenda of the general election.
The bigger the vote for strikes, the And the planning needs to start now
stronger the union’s voice, and the for hard-hitting strike action.
Battle to stop the closures in HMRC
Revenue & Customs management last offices were shocked, but also angry.
week announced the latest stage in Staff in the Harlow office walked out
their assault on workers and public unofficially when the news broke.
services with plans to close over 130 The government should be investing
offices in the next 12 months. in more staff to get the £130 billion of
The cuts mean that over 1,700 tax that is going uncollected annually,
staff are being forced to take due to evasion, avoidance and fraud.
voluntary redundancy or to stay and Most of this tax is owed by the rich.
hope for a job in another office. PCS members must take a stand
However, with another 1,800 against the government’s relentless
workers to face compulsory transfer, barrage of cuts to essential public
there are no guarantees this will services.
happen. The department has already An emergency meeting of the
cut over 20,000 jobs since 2006 and PCS group executive committee
has pledged to cut a further 5,000 by is scheduled to discuss the issue
next year. next week. They must call for action
PCS union members in the affected against the cuts.
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