Mark Serwotka - Executive Officer, DSS - Sheffield.
Members of PCS face a clear choice in this election. My two opponents are both full time PCS officials. They are both backed by the various right wing factions who run our Union and are responsible for it's failings. I am a serving Civil Servant. I am an Executive Officer employed on visiting duties within the DSS in Sheffield. I am a Socialist, and I offer a radical change in this election, for a membership lead Union which champions the interests of it's members.
In my 21 years as a member , and lay official in CPSA/PCS I have amassed a wealth of experience, representing members, leading negotiations with management and winning disputes. I was the Benefits Agency Personal Case Officer for three years and dealt with hundreds of personal cases. In this time I won over £250,000 in compensation for members.
I have a long record of leading successful campaigns, including many successful strikes. My record, added to my experience of being a working Civil Servant who faces the same problems that you face, more than equips me to serve as General Secretary of PCS.
PCS Must Change
Currently PCS does not respond to the challenges and pressures we experience as members. PCS must be more pro-active in dealing with the constant attacks we face, it must be more responsive to members needs, and must put its massive resources at the disposal of the thousands of unpaid volunteer local representatives who are the life blood of our organisation. For a start , it should provide legal representation , when requested, to members and representatives at Employment Tribunals. PCS must urgently set up a democratic and more effective structure for the members we represent in the private sector.
Pay
If elected I will run a campaign for the return of National Pay bargaining and National rates of pay. The current situation of over 150 bargaining Units is designed to divide and weaken us, and results in different pay for work of the same grade. We must return to equal rates of pay for work of equal value.
Performance Pay
PCS must reject all forms of performance pay, and campaign for their end. They are divisive, discriminatory, and blatantly unfair. We must also oppose new forms of performance pay which the Treasury wish to see, whether they be team based, or relative pay based.
Pay Progression.
PCS must implement the motion carried at Conference 2000, moved by my Branch, to seek guaranteed pay progression to the maximum in five years. The rate of pay for the job is the maximum. I therefore reject any pay system that does not allow all members to achieve this in five years.
End Low Pay
The European decency threshold is £14,186 p.a. Some of our members earn under £9,000. Many members have to claim Working Families Tax Credit. This is an indictment of PCS . I stand for a campaign to eradicate low pay.
Annual Leave & Shorter Working Week.
We should all receive 30 days annual leave and work a 35 hour week. Some parts of the Civil Service have already achieved 30 days annual leave on entry, others have to wait 15 years. No progress has ever been made, or attempted , on our long-standing policy of a 35 hour week , this must be pursued.
Sick Absence Policies.
Unacceptable targets of 30% reductions in sick absences have lead to some drastic policies being implemented which are detrimental to our members. We have high sick absence rates in some Departments due to the stressful conditions we work in. We should attack the causes of ill health not let the employer attack members who are too ill to come to work.
Privatisation
The threat we face from privatisation is worse now than under the last Government. In 1997 the joint General Secretary, Barry Reamsbottom, claimed in his election address that he had won a pledge from Labour to halt privatisation. How wrong he was. Much of the service remains under threat. PCS must run a nationally co-ordinated campaign against all privatisation.
Equality
For too long the management have paid lip service to the need for equality. Yet we still see direct, indirect, and institutional discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, and disability. We must ensure that all of this is challenged, and as a start must ensure that all personnel management systems are equality proofed.
Currently there is evidence to show performance pay discriminates against ethnic minority and disabled staff
For An Independent Union Not Partnership
PCS must remain an independent Union which negotiates binding agreements, whoever the Government of the day happens to be. I do not believe that the Union should enter partnership agreements. Our employer is not our partner. I also believe that PCS must be more openly critical of this Government when it attacks our members and working people in general. I also believe we must urgently establish a political fund so that our voice can be heard on issues like pensions, the NHS, education, asylum seekers and much more.
For A Democratic Union.
If elected I will campaign for the return of an Annual Conference and annual election of the National Executive Committee. I also believe that all senior full time officers of the Union should be elected annually, and be accountable to you. I pledge to you that if elected I will not accept the full salary of over £60,000.
Vote For Change
I offer the opportunity to change our Union. For too long PCS has reacted too late, if at all, to the changes we face. Examples of this can be found everywhere. Voting for me, and taking your place in a vibrant campaigning Union, which is prepared to stand up and face these challenges, will be a huge step forward for us all.