Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have pledged to work with PCS in protecting and furthering the interests of PCS members as part of their wider opposition to the austerity politics of the government and, truth be told, sections of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP).

They have agreed that there should be national pay bargaining which would ensure that men and women doing work of equal value will be paid the same regardless of which part of the civil service they work in. They are opposed to out-sourcing and privatisation and would seek to bring staff and work back in-house. They actively oppose the discriminatory PMR system which blights so many members’ lives. They have invited PCS to work with them in developing policies which would serve the interests of working class people as service users and our members as service providers.

Never in the history of our union – including predecessor unions – has the leadership of a major party – in this instance the Official Opposition – agreed to work so closely with us and to adopt so many of our policies. Moreover, and critically, the Labour Party remains a party based on the British trade union movement.

But of course Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell cannot work with us if they are no longer in the leadership of the Labour Party and they cannot come into government without mass help from unions such as the PCS. Socialists and Trade Union activists have a duty to help them resist the constant undermining of members of the PLP and the Blairites who would rather see another Tory Government than an electoral victory for a Corbyn led Labour Party.

This does not require any of us to be uncritical but it does require us to recognise that defeat for the Corbyn leadership will be presented as a defeat for any positive politics for radical social change and an end to austerity.

Following a successful first meeting at PCS Conference,  we are now launching PCS Momentum to help organise support for Jeremy and John within PCS and to turn that support outwards to the wider labour movement and the communities we live in.

Momentum is the successor to the campaign to elect Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party. It is committed to supporting Jeremy and John in retaining the leadership of the Labour Party, winning elections and forming the next Government with policies that will make a real and positive difference to the lives of the great majority of people.  If you favour such a project then please join us.

The inaugural meeting of PCS Momentum will take place in Derby on 16 July, 12.00 to 16.00 in the Waterfall Pub, Railway Terrace, Derby DE1 2RU. It is open to all PCS members or those who work for the union, who are existing members of Momentum or who will join Momentum at the meeting on 16^th.

Agenda 16 July

12.00 – 12.40             Registration

12.40 – 12.45             Introduction to Momentum

12.45 – 13.00             Guest Speaker from Momentum

13.00- 14.00              Motions

14.00- 14.45              Lunch

14.45- 15.15              Motions

15.15- 15.30              Election of PCS Steering Committee

15.30- 15.50              Open Debate

15.50- 16.00              Closing Remarks

Motions

These should be sent to  pcs.momentum@gmail.com by 17.00, Monday 11 July.

They can cover any subject relevant to PCS Momentum. Suggested areas as to where we need motions are:

Campaigns

Structure of PCS Momentum

Rules

Composition of the PCS Momentum Steering Committee

To keep up to date with us please follow our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PCS-Momentum-723975297712722/

The meeting as a Facebook Event is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/731677300304456/