PCS Left Unity

PCS Left Unity is a socialist faction that operates within the Public & Commercial Services (PCS) union and is the biggest organised socialist faction in any TUC affiliate. Made up of different socialist groups and independents, we operate at every level of the union, from within branches and workplace committees to the Group & National Executive committees. Our aim: to build a fighting, democratic union and to drive forward a socialist agenda in the TUC.

As socialists, we stand for an independent and democratic union that puts up a determined fight for its members and a union that participates in the wider struggle for political and social change for working people. We are democratic and open organisation that embraces a wide range of socialist opinion in PCS and campaigns for a socialist society that provides for the needs of the many, not the greed of a few.

‘Broad Lefts’ in trade unions

Tony Conway is a past member of the PCS NEC. He is a member of PCS Left Unity and served on its National Organizing Committee.

"Why we build ‘Broad Lefts’ in trade unions"

As part of an orientation towards political unionism the Communist Party has long proposed that socialists should organise together in trade unions to form ‘Broad Lefts’. Broad Lefts differ in from union to union, but a ‘broad left’ strategy, attempts to build the influence of the left in the trade unions by winning leadership and building alliances across the non-sectarian, labour movement left. Broad Lefts in trade unions are not simply electoral vehicles, but should act as a powerhouse of policy making.

Bert Ramelson, industrial organiser of the Communist Party from 1965 to 1977, argued that groupings of the left should come together push through policy issues, set the bargaining agenda and win positions. This Broad Left strategy came out of a general policy of left unity pursued by the Communist Party. Examples of this are successful broad movements such as the People's Assembly, the Stop the War Coalition and CND as well as Anti Racist and Anti-Fascist campaigns.

Linked to Broad Lefts is the need for strong rank and file organisation in trade unions from branch committees to shop steward combines. The Broad Left strategy sought to develop militant rank and file structures such as the Liaison Committee for the Defence of Trade Unions’ in the 1960s and 70s, but did not see rank and file trade union members as necessarily opposed to union Executive Committees and paid Officials - although this is undoubtedly sometimes the case. Part of the process of raising class consciousness is building the mass power of trade union members. All parts of the union have a role to play in this process and positions should be fought for and won but there is no path forward without rank and file strength.

The Communist Party argued within Broad Lefts for an alternative economic and political strategy which had as its central premise that workers involved in economic struggle were more likely to be open to progressive ideas. The attacks by the State on trade union organisation and collective bargaining have made this more difficult since the 1980s and makes the case for revitalising trade union Broad Lefts even stronger.

Revitalisation of trade union broad lefts will help progressive trade unionists to join the dots, link up struggles with international campaigns and challenge capitalist ideology which dominates the media. Broad Lefts are also vital in developing extra-parliamentary action.

The Communist Party argues:

Building a productive and sustainable economy by ending the city of London's dominance, strengthening our productive industry, investing in our public services, assisting developing nations and safeguarding our planet's ecosystem. Full and secure employment with good pensions must be the goal.
Democratic public ownership must be given real meaning. Organisations such as Defend Council Housing, Keep Our NHS Public and We Own It have done much to popularise the case for public ownership in public services and across the rail, bus, water and energy industries.
Social Justice and a democratic culture must row back the attacks on pensions and social welfare protection. The so-called sick note culture stems directly from cuts in public services and liberalisation in wage negotiations, housing and the continued attacks on workers rights to organise.

This is why the Communist Party calls for lefts in trade unions to develop such a programme in our workplaces intrinsically linked to active Broad Lefts.^[1]

"Where next for fighting unions"

John McDonnell, Fran Heathcote, Matt Gould, Daniel Kebede, Alex Gordon, Libby Nolan, Richard Burgon, Holly Turner.

Sponsored Unison Time for Change, NEU Left, PCS Left Unity, Unite United Left, RMT Broad Left. TUC fringe event, supported by the Communist Party of Britain.

Union Left

In October 2022 Fran Heathcote, PCS Left Unity organiser; Andrea Egan, Unison Time for Real Change; Alex Gordon, RMT Broad Left; Lucy Coleman, chair of NEU Left; Dave Allen, secretary of Unite's United Left published an article in Morning Star "Union left groups are here to co-ordinate action".

There are now left groups in the NEU, PCS, RMT, Unison and Unite – in this time of heightened struggle, we urge all members to reach out to them so that we can mobilise for united action across the union movement, writes Union Left.^[2]

PCS Left Unity candidates for 2022 elections

National Executive Committee Elections

The President & Vice Presidents were elected unopposed

President Fran Heathcote

Vice-Presidents Martin Cavanagh, Hannah David, Kevin McHugh

The Results of the NEC Ordinary members election were as follows (excluding candidates displaced by joint Democracy Alliance slate with the Democrats, as carried by motion 8 at LU Conference):-