Consultation on General Election strategy - PCS
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Consultation on General
Election strategy
Photo: Guy Bell
Introduction
ADC 2018 agreed that the election and privatisation from Conservative
of a UK Labour Government under and previous Labour governments
the leadership and policies of John and that must be in the interests of
McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn is in PCS members.
the interest of PCS members.
Conference decided that we must The purpose of this document is to
develop an effective political set out background information and
strategy for the next general pose questions for the consultation.
Mark Serwotka Fran Heathcote
election that involves advancing our Branches, Groups, equality networks General Secretary President
industrial agenda through national and other bodies of the union, as
union support for a Jeremy Corbyn well as individual members, are
led Labour government. strongly encouraged to respond.
Conference decided that a The consultation will be launched
consultation should be held at ADC 2019 and then discussions
throughout the union “on the with branches, groups, regions,
means by which we can increase our nation committees, sector
support for a campaign to get a associations and equalities
Corbyn & McDonnell-led UK Labour committees will take place
government elected” (motion A41 following ADC to run until
attached). November.
Our approach to political A report of the consultation will be
campaigning is aimed at finding produced for branch AGMs in 2020
ways to win better pay, jobs, so that decisions on national policy
pensions and public services. can be taken at ADC 2020.
In the current situation, conference You are strongly urged to respond
concluded that a Jeremy Corbyn-led to this consultation. Details of
UK government offers a genuine how to do so are at the end of
alternative to years of spending cuts the booklet.
Photo, top: Andrew Aitchison
Background
British politics has changed beyond all
recognition since 2015. Following the
Conservative victory in the 2015
general election, Jeremy Corbyn was
elected as Labour leader. The election
of an anti-austerity leadership of the
Labour Party committed to an
alternative to the economic
orthodoxy of cuts in public spending is
an historic shift in British politics.
In the snap General Election of June
2017 the Tories unexpectedly lost
their majority and Labour won over
12 million votes for the most radical Jeremy Corbyn, Mark Serwotka and John McDonnell at demonstration for NHS in 2017,
manifesto for a generation. shortly after Mark’s heart transplant
Just as British politics has changed, Our Political Fund allows our political coordinated basis very successfully
PCS policy has changed with it. The campaigning to take different forms, ever since.
view that a civil service union should from local leafleting, using public
not intervene in the political arena petitions and using the national This approach, combined with
used to be widely accepted. But, as media, to lobbying MPs, engaging members lobbying their own MPs,
the civil service has been politicised by with political parties and other work in has enabled us to save workplaces
successive governments, and as cuts the political arena. from closure, stop privatisation,
and privatisation programmes have and to defend our members’ terms
fundamentally attacked PCS members’ TYPES OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING and conditions.
terms and conditions, we have At its formation in 1998, PCS carried
become more active in the political out very little political campaigning. Reflecting the fact that PCS is not
arena. Since 2010, Conservative Over the years since then, as our affiliated to any political party, we
austerity policies have brought such members suffered cuts and attacks on have members of most political
issues to centre stage. the services they delivered, we have parties in our group, currently chaired
developed a deserved reputation as a by the SNP’s Chris Stephens MP with
We engage in political campaigning vibrant, independent and effective officers from Labour, Plaid Cymru and
because politicians in Parliament and campaigning union with major the Green Party.
the devolved institutions take the influence as a critic of government
decisions which determine members’ policies, most recently the Tories’ General election campaigns
pay, jobs, pensions and working austerity programme. From 2010 onwards PCS carried out
conditions, as well as the public general election campaigning in the
services we both deliver and use. Parliamentary groups form of ‘Make your vote count’. MYVC
Political campaigning is a tool to In 2003 we set up our PCS centred on approaching all parties
advance our agenda in the workplace parliamentary group in Westminster equally and asking candidates
– to support our industrial strategy with Labour’s John McDonnell as chair questions based on our interests with
and to help us in bargaining situations. (now honorary life chair). The the responses publicised to members
Photo: Andy Aitchison
If we took the view that we shouldn’t parliamentary group has been as information to help them decide
get involved in such work it would be working on members’ behalf to bring who to vote for. MYVC treated all
much harder to defend our basic the concerns of the union to the parties the same and was developed
interests. attention of MPs on a consistent and at a time when all major parties were
running on very similar platforms, of PCS members in employment. constituencies where no candidate
something that is no longer the case. supported our aims. It is clear that this
When this strategy was first applied it In 2012, after three years of debate policy was developed in a very
generated a lot of interest but over at ADC and a full membership ballot, different political context to the one
time the parties became less PCS adopted a policy of standing and we are now in – one in which all the
responsive and some prepared supporting candidates in exceptional main parties supported cuts to our
general replies for all their candidates circumstances as a response to the members’ jobs, pay and terms and
to use. consensus on cuts and privatisation conditions and supported austerity
that had grown up between the to some extent.
Over time, we moved to try to main parties.
influence some key MPs in each region Since the election of a Tory
and nation by meeting them locally. The policy has always been that PCS government in 2015, the Labour
These MPs tended to be in areas would only consider standing and leadership elections and the EU
where there were significant numbers supporting candidates in referendum vote, the political context
has changed. Jeremy Corbyn’s election
DEVOLVED AREAS presented us with an opportunity to
exert more influence on Labour’s
No consultation on political strategy as the employer to the growing policy development through our
can ignore the impact of devolution devolved sector members as well as long-standing relationships with
on Wales and Northern Ireland, and the governing party over much Jeremy and John McDonnell.
the dramatic changes in Scotland social policy in Scotland since 2007.
over the last few years, and this At our 2016 conference, Jeremy
consultation invites responses that Wales Corbyn promised to restore national
reflect the breakup of the old PCS engages with the Welsh bargaining in the civil service and
political consensus, and the rise of Assembly in a range of different ways pledged to oppose cuts and repeal the
the SNP in particular. as part of our devolved political Tories’ Trade Union Act. In June 2016
campaigning. The PCS Assembly the NEC issued a statement which
Scotland cross-party group was established in declared that we opposed the
With over 23,000 members, PCS is 2005 and is the only group attempts by some Labour MPs to
the largest civil service union in dedicated to pursuing the interests unseat Jeremy Corbyn and, whilst
Scotland With a large cross-party and concerns of a particular union. remaining an independent, non-
parliamentary group in Holyrood, The group is chaired by Plaid Cymru’s affiliated union, we believe that PCS
chaired by Labour’s Neil Findlay MSP. Bethan Sayed and the Vice-Chair is members’ interests are best served
Labour’s Mike Hedges. by his continued leadership of the
While this consultation recognises Labour party.
the fundamental shift in the wider Northern Ireland
political context in the last three PCS members in NI work to the UK RECENT CONFERENCE POLICY
years, we also recognise that there government in the Home Civil In 2017, following the calling of the
has been a fundamental shift in Service, non-departmental snap general election, ADC passed
Scottish politics, particularly government bodies, and privatised emergency motions which allowed
following the independence areas. All NI devolved assembly work the union to support Labour
referendum in 2014. is the remit of the Northern Ireland candidates. Despite the tight
Civil Service for which the timescale between the conference
PCS took an active campaigning recognised union is NIPSA. In and the election, PCS branches
position in the 2014 independence addition, the political framework in endorsed 91 local Labour candidates
referendum. However we did not NI is designed to ensure political based on the party’s radical election
take a yes or no position, and we balance in the Assembly. Therefore, manifesto which included proposed
have sought to maintain a successful how PCS engages in NI is different policies which we had long fought for.
relationship with the SNP in power, from Scotland and Wales. No financial support was provided
and, due to the timescale, the
Our position is clear that we want a UK and to John McDonnell’s and Jeremy
Labour Government led by Jeremy Corbyn’s offices.
Corbyn. If an election occurs during
the consultation period it would fall to Examples of this work include:
the NEC to judge how to put that • A close working relationship with
position in to practise. Jon Trickett’s team leading to
regular discussions about civil
HOW IS OUR CURRENT POLITICAL service pay, pensions, redundancy
STRATEGY WORKING? scheme and how the civil service
We have established a new HQ team would change under a Jeremy
that covers campaigns and political Corbyn Government.
Jeremy Corbyn at TUC 2017
strategy, linking up the work in the • Ongoing discussions with Treasury
UK Parliament with our national, shadow minister Annalise Dodds
endorsements mainly took the form of group and branch campaigns. There is around HMRC closures.
branches communicating messages of close working with our Scottish and • Regular meetings with Margaret
endorsement to their members as Welsh offices to ensure a joined Greenwood’s shadow DWP team
they saw fit. up approach. including direct input into the social
security policy review, working
At ADC 2018 conference agreed that We currently have 84 MP’s in the together on Universal Credit.
“the election of a UK Labour Westminster parliamentary group and • Discussions around the potential for
Government under the leadership three Lords. The MP breakdown is 69 a new Ministry of Labour with Laura
and policies of McDonnell and Labour, 8 SNP, 3 PC, 3 Change UK/ Pidcock’s team.
Corbyn is in the interests of PCS Independent, 1 Green. • Joint work with Richard Burgon’s
members.” team to stand up for Justice workers.
This group meets around four times a
The motion further instructed the NEC year along with day to day contact HOW CAN WE INCREASE OUR
to “conduct a widespread with some key officers of the group. SUPPORT FOR THE ELECTION OF A
consultation with branches, groups, The meetings allow for a face to face JEREMY CORBYN GOVERNMENT?
regions, nation committees, sector briefing on the key issues of the day Unions all take a slightly different
associations and equalities and a call for action on many issues approach to political campaigning
committees on the means by which raised with us by groups. This leads to and lobbying. It is worth some
we can increase our support for a Early Day Motions, adjournment comparison to see the range of
campaign to get a Corbyn & debates, Westminster Hall debates, possible strategies and activities we
McDonnell-led UK Labour and Parliamentary Questions. In the could adopt in order to increase our
Government elected.” past year the number of MP’s joining support for the election of a Jeremy
the group has risen sharply. Corbyn-LED government.
Due to a combination of factors – the Alongside this cross party approach
2018 and 2019 pay ballots and the we have – in line with conference There are 12 unions affiliated to
consultation on women’s policy – developed much stronger the Labour Party. They have
representation on the NEC being the working relationships with the Labour representation on the party’s NEC,
primary issues – the general election front bench teams. This has been the right to vote in leadership
campaign consultation was not welcomed by PCS Groups as we brief elections and to elect delegates to
possible during the 2018/19 shadow ministers directly on key issues attend conferences. They have a
conference year. such as office closures. direct role in producing the Labour
manifesto, which consequently
GENERAL ELECTION POLICY Links are particularly strong with the reflects some of their key issues. At
With the current situation over Brexit, Treasury team (HMRC), the DWP, MOJ, general elections they call for a vote
Photo: Guy Bell
PCS has been calling for a general Home Office, Transport and BEIS. for Labour and their representatives
election. It is entirely possible that one Alongside this we have direct links engage in canvassing and other
could take place before ADC 2020. with the Cabinet Office shadow team election activities.
The activities of affiliated unions are
not pertinent to PCS or this
consultation. However, non-affiliated
unions may offer us some possible
courses of action. Non-affiliated
unions adopt different campaigning
strategies. Some simply attempt to
draw attention to specific issues of
concern to their members. At the
other end of the scale, some non-
affiliated unions work actively to
support the election of a Labour
government.
NEU, the new national teachers’
union, has built on the political
strategy started by the previous NUT.
They do not closely align with any
political party but do run high profile John McDonnell and Laura Pidcock, MP on PCS BEIS picket line
campaigns especially around elections
highlighting issues like school cuts. selections with the prior approval of • aShould PCS declare it is in favour of
the RMT NEC. Jeremy Corbyn-led government
This has moved from holding hustings but not advise members who to
type events to more online campaigns Branches who wish to do so can vote for in their constituencies?
and photo opportunities around support Labour candidates at • Should we encourage members to
schools. They canvass national parties elections. The RMT have taken part in get involved in campaigning locally
and local candidates for their views Labour party campaign days, have to support Labour candidates?
and publicise these responses. This is a produced their own election leaflets • Should we make donations from
strategy very close to the ‘Make Your and have donated money to individual our political fund to support a
Vote Count’ events and campaigns campaigns. Labour general election
that PCS used to run. campaign?
In 2017 the RMT called for “a • Should we encourage members to
The rail union RMT takes a different maximum Labour vote at the 2017 join their local Labour Party?
approach. Whilst it remains non- General Election to defeat the Tories • Should we encourage branches to
affiliated to the Labour party, in May and for there to be a Labour support local Labour Party
2018 it chose to closely align itself Government led by Jeremy Corbyn”. campaigns?
with Labour. • What different strategies for
KEY QUESTIONS FOR THE Scotland, Wales and Northern
The union stated it wanted its CONSULTATION Ireland should we adopt to take
members to be active within Labour How can we increase our support for account of the different political
and it provides training and publicity the election of a Jeremy Corbyn-led situations there?
to enable members to do so. Branches government? • What other activities or strategies
and Regional Councils are encouraged • Should PCS call for a Labour vote? could PCS, as a non-affiliated
to develop their links to local Labour • Should a call for a Labour vote be for union, adopt to assist in the
Photo: Guy Bell
parties, including supporting pro-RMT the whole of the UK or only in election of a Corbyn-led Labour
candidates in internal Labour England and Wales? government?Conclusion
This is an important debate for PCS HOW TO RESPOND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
members. The commitments made Please use the information and The NEC will consider the results of
by John McDonnell and Jeremy questions raised in the consultation the consultation and publish a report
Corbyn in the past three years around document to respond: in early 2020, with a motion
restoration of national pay submitted to ADC 2020 that reflects
bargaining, a new system for social Online via the PCS website: any new proposals based on the
security, a halt to the destructive pcs.org.uk/politicalconsultation responses.
office closure programme, a
restoration of trade union rights and Email: mark@pcs.org.uk
many other issues shows what is at
stake. By post to: General Election strategy
consultation, General Secretary’s
We encourage all branches, Groups, Office, PCS, 160 Falcon Road
other union bodies and members to London SW11 2LN.
take part in this discussion.
The deadline for receipt of responses
is 15 November 2019.
TIMETABLE
• Consultation between June and This booklet is available to download
November 2019. from the PCS website.
• Report to NEC in December 2019
on the outcomes of the
consultation.
• New updated paper produced for
discussion at AGMs in 2020.
• Motion for debate to ADC 2020.Appendix
ADC 2018 motion A41
Conference notes the 2017 general h) End the public sector pay cap and “allowing as much support to Labour
election returned an unstable Tory introduce £10 per hour living Party candidates as is allowable
minority government, propped up by wage under the current PCS policy”.
the DUP, which has continued to i) Statutory rights for union equalities Approval was given to branches to
attack public services, public sector reps support 91 Labour candidates.
workers, working class communities j) Sectoral collective bargaining with
and the most vulnerable in our trade unions Conference recognises that the 2017
society. k) Invest in public services and the approach has its limitations and that
public sector workforce including it is now not enough to operate a
Conference notes the higher-than- more civil service workers. national political strategy based on
expected vote for Labour in the only local support for candidates. We
general election based on “For the Conference further notes the must now develop an effective
Many Not the Few” manifesto, widespread opposition to the Tories’ political strategy for the next general
reflecting Jeremy Corbyn and John cuts and privatisation agenda by election that involves advancing our
McDonnell’s advocacy of policies in campaigning groups and trade industrial agenda through national
line with longstanding PCS policies unions through industrial and union support for a Corbyn led
and industrial demands. Under that political action, and Corbyn and Labour government.
manifesto, the Labour leadership McDonnell’s support for such action
now support: including attending PCS protests. Our overall political strategy remains
one of active engagement with
a) A return to national pay bargaining Conference agrees that, government and opposition
in the civil service and related notwithstanding the different politicians of all parties in order to
bodies political structures in Scotland, Wales influence policies that promote the
b) A fair taxation system and and Northern Ireland, the election of interests of our members.
investment in HMRC resources a UK Labour Government under the
c) Taking public utilities, private rail leadership and policies of McDonnell Conference instructs the NEC to
companies and the Royal Mail back and Corbyn is in the interest of PCS conduct a widespread consultation
into public ownership members. with branches, groups, regions,
d) Repealing anti-union legislation nation committees, sector
and increasing workers’ rights Conference notes last year our associations and equalities
e) Repealing benefits cuts and intervention at the general election committees on the means by which
scrapping sanctions was determined by Motions A304 we can increase our support for a
f) Secure homes for all including and A305 carried at ADC 2017. The campaign to get a Corbyn &
building 100,000 new council/ overall political strategy the NEC McDonnell-led UK Labour
social housing took in the short period running up government elected.
g) Keeping the Land Registry public to the general election included
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