Campaign news

Strong support for PCS on Budget Day

24th March 2010

There was strong support for the PCS strike on Budget Day, most importantly from PCS members themselves, but great solidarity from other unions, LRC candidates and MPs, and LRC members.

Special mention also has to go to Carwyn Jones, Labour First Minister of the governing Labour-Plaid coalition in the Welsh Assembly - where no Labour or Plaid AMs crossed picket lines, effectively shutting down the Assembly. Carwyn said:

“Speaking as far as the Labour Party is concerned, its something that is ingrained in party thinking, that you don’t cross a picket line”

- the PLP might want to reflect on that point . . .

John McDonnell MP, LRC Chair (who refused to cross picket lines at Parliament), said:

“There is a real depth of anger amongst civil servants at the way the Government has torn up their basic contracts. If the Government was only willing to seek arbitration this dispute could be resolved.”

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

“RMT fully supports the PCS in their campaign and as another union involved in a dispute over attacks on jobs, safety and working conditions on Network Rail we appreciate the importance of the maximum trade union solidarity that can be mobilised in the face of the growing threats to our members.

“While this weeks revelations show that the political class and the boss class are up to their necks in buying influence in sleazy meetings in posh hotels we will exert our influence where our movement always has - out on the streets and on our picket lines.”

Sarah Evans, Labour PPC for North West Hampshire, who joined PCS pickets in Andover, said:

“I am proud to support public service workers fighting to defend their terms and conditions.

“Public service workers often earn barely more than the minimum wage. I have pledged my support to do all I can to defend our public services and think that working people should not be made to pay for the recession brought about by the unregulated greed of bankers,”

Elaine Smith MSP said:

“This industrial action is not about fat cats with inflated bonuses taking a well deserved hit, but hard working people whose endeavour and commitment helps to keep this country running.  They are workers whom many people rely on daily and whose terms and conditions cannot simply be undermined those who think cuts are a simple solution to a much more complex problem.

“I would like to emphasise my full support for the striking workers, and call on the government to listen to the PCS suggestions about alternative ways of making savings without doing so at the expense of ordinary hard working public servants”

Watch the 19th March campaign video
See the PCS website for more details