PCS at Dudley CSA

Trade unions have always been concerned with national and international social and economic matters and their impacts upon working people. The first part of the morning allowed time for debate on the union's opposition to Trident, and its support of campaigns against NHS privatisation. The second part of the morning was for motions on pensions, and on the services provided by the union to its members and reps. There was also a small amount of time for one motion on health and safety - that PCS should campaign for a maximum temperature in the workplace.

The word 'guillotine' sounds dramatic and final. The conference timetable is managed by the Standing Orders Committee. During each section, the SOC watch the clock and inform Conference when they deem there is insufficient time for another motion to be heard. This is when the guillotine falls. On the final day, time is allocated for a small number of guillotined motions, decided by the SOC, to be heard.

National Conference is the body that decides the union's policy. It is attended by over 1200 delegates from all areas of PCS, and 165 motions are scheduled for debate. The motions debated today included furtherance of the industrial action to protect public services, to campaign against the government's policy of shifting civil service work into the voluntary sector, continuance of the fight for civil service pay coherence, and affiliations to Abortion Rights and the charity Inquest. Also debated was a rule change to the union's disciplinary process. The debate which provoked the most discussion was about a change to the rules about removing reserved seats on the NEC for black members, and to introduce reserved seats on the NEC and GECs for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members by 2008 and produce plans for improving representation by the end of 2008. Both motions were defeated following strong arguments from NEC members. Although the NEC now has three black members who won their seats on merit and did not need to resort to the reserved seat option, it was argued that the reserved seat does still serve as a first rung for black members to make their initial mark. It was argued that, as the union has no record of the numbers of LGBT members, it cannot yet determine whether the group is underrepresented. It was held that the NEC will work, before the end of 2008, to initiate action to ensure no group is underrepresented.

Tomorrow it's the second day. Dudley has one motion up for debate - A97 which instructs the NEC to seek an allocation for facility time for union equality officers. Beth is preparing her speech right now as I update the blog. It's a long day for delegates.

The first day of the National Conference. We took our seats, somewhere very close to the back of the conference hall, with woefully insufficient legroom. That is, until lunchtime, when we moved forward the row of seats in front when everyone had gone.

Anyway, to open the Conference, President Janice Godrich welcomed all the delegates. Janice spoke of the outgoing Prime Minister's legacy, that child poverty has not been eradicated in Britain, and that where public services are concerned, the government treats those who matter most as if they matter least.

Janice paid tribute to local activists, and emphasised that the problems faced by the civil service are echoed across the whole of the public sector, that savage cuts are being made to pay for the Iraq war. Janice stressed the importance of organising for the fight agead, and promised that PCS would stand alongside other public sector unions.

To conclude, Janice said PCS is a great union and our best days are still ahead of us.

General Secretary Mark Serwotka then addressed the Conference. Mark commended the members and activists for their hard work over the last year. He said there are three key components of the union's work - determination, unity, and hard work. He reported that membership stood at 72%, compared with 59% in the rest of the public sector. He reported that union's women's lobby of parliament had highlighted unequal pay, and that the union is taking forward more equal pay legal cases.

Mark was pleased with the progress of the union's campaigns, particularly Public Services Not Private Profit. The union is commissioning academics to produce reports that challenge the government's anti-public sector policies, including a report in response to the Freud report, exposing the government's obsession with the private/third sectors. Mark reported progress in the areas of union learning and young members, underpinning the campaigns and recruiting more members.

Mark said it is to the government's shame that they came in with the theme of "things can only get better" and then proceeded to cut jobs in the civil service, privatise more than the previous Conservative governments, cut living standards, deskill the civil service's work, and bring about a culture of individual monitoring and bullying. All of this, despite evidence that it costs more and worsens the service. Only this week, DWP is advertising for interested charities to deliver some of its services.

In DCA, regional pay is proposed. It is unacceptable, but signals the way for the rest of the civil service if it is not fought.

Stress is up, violence to staff is up. The union has risen to the challenge. Where we are strong, we can deliver gains. PCS seeks to negotiate, is pragmatic where necessary, but will not keep its head down.

The second and final day of the Group Conference opened with Motion A288, about the proposals to make CSA a non-departmental public body, which was debated at our mandating meeting. This motion instructs the GEC to develop the campaign for CSA/C-MEC to remain within DWP. It was moved by Dave Richards, who recently visited Dudley to address members about the proposals. Simon Hughes seconded the motion, passionately reminding Conference that the move to C-MEC is a step towards privatisation, an action which could easily follow in other parts of the Department.

Tomorrow it's the start of the National Conference.

In the afternoon, PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka addressed the Conference. Mark thanked reps, members and activists for all their support and work throughout the year.

Mark reminded Conference of the massive scale of the attacks on Civil Service pay, conditions and the services provided to the public. He emphasised that there is no quick fix in this dispute. On pay, Mark said there is no Departmental solution to the pay limits imposed by the chancellor.

The first day is the Group Conference. DWP, being the largest group in PCS, gets to use the main conference hall. We had excellent seats, in the second row, affording a good view of the top table and the rostrum.

Numerous motions were debated and voted upon throughout the day, on subjects including managing attendance, pay, PDS and industrial relations.

After a long and tiring drive through the constantly pouring rain which started the second we left Dudley, it was a relief to arrive in Brighton in one piece. The hotel is on the prom, so it was easy to find.

The rain soon went, leaving a bracing wind. Still, only a short refreshing walk along the prom to the conference centre. Every delegate has to visit the centre to register, and receive their conference pack. This includes the essentials, the cards if there is a card vote (where they count the actual numbers of members represented by the delegates), and a free bag. Lots of tables scattered around the foyer area, waiting to be set up by their respective organisations such as Amnesty, Love Music Hate Racism, Benenden, and groups within the union such as Proud, Young Members, Women's Group. Managed to sneak a quick look inside the main conference hall where everything was ready. It's eerily quiet when no-one is there, but I bet it'll be buzzing tomorrow.

Welcome to the PCS at Dudley CSA Blog. We aim to bring you news, views and updates from the PCS Group and National Conferences, which take place in Brighton from Monday 14 May to Friday 18 May. Your three delegates are Simon Hughes, Beth Watts and Tom Fall.