Misinformation to create division

The con-dems and their paid media have started the campaign to create division in PCS. We should be proud; it's not a sign of our weakness but, on the contrary, it recognises our strength. They know that together, under our newly endorsed leadership, we can and we will defeat the attacks on our conditions, jobs and services. Some recent comment does, however, require answering:

PCS policy is that those who work for us, such as General Secretary Mark Serwotka, should receive pay that is more in line with the salaries of the members who the union represents. The union, however, that represents PCS staff (GMB) does not agree with this; they believe that their members should be paid 'the rate for the job.' PCS, as an employer, has not been able to reach agreement with GMB, so currently it is true that paid full time officials are generally receive more than many PCS members.

Mark, however, has committed to paying some of his salary back into campaigns and the movement in general. This is not an ideal situation, but it is frankly hypocritical that Mark's salary has been criticised by members of a Cabinet, 21 of whom are millionaires. I am happy to report that Mark is not a millionaire! I agree with PCS policy, but I was amused the other day when a member said to me that they'd rather pay Mark his current salary to continue protecting us as he has magnificently done since his election, rather than 'the tossers in this government or the bankers.' You will note that this was a direct quotation.

Today the Guardian has published an article from someone who is described as a 'writer and a barrister currently working in the Civil Service' calling upon Mark to resign because PCS took the last government to court over the compensation scheme and won!! The twisted argument of the article is that PCS should have accepted Labour's changes to the scheme (although a High Court judge found most of them illegal!!!), because what the con-dems are now proposing are far worse. The article made me very angry, but now I have had a chance to reflect it makes me proud to be a PCS member. Because what it tells me is that the other Civil Service union leaderships are cowardly and are prepared to sell out their members. Every decision on the campaign was endorsed by PCS members; members in other unions have never been fully consulted on the changes and that's why many left the union they were in to join PCS. Articles like this from someone who surely if he was any good at his legal profession would be making mega-bucks in the private sector receive the full support of Cameron, Clegg and other rich ministers, as well as the cabal of those other Civil Service union general secretaries with a wide yellow streak down their backs. By the way, these general secretaries receive large salaries too, but they are not in favour in reducing these at all and, as far as I know, they take everything that is going and pay nothing back into the movement to aid workers in disputes or other progressive movements. By ye friends, will thou be known!