What's going on on the PCS NEC?

[mutley]

I hear the SWP members have been expelled.

I don't think that's true. I think it's likely that they won't be put forward for those positions by the swp again. Which means that they will accept party discipline and go back to the rank and file, or break discipline and stand with some others support, and probably then get expelled.

I hope they don't do the latter, this deal sucks, it is almost perfect for convincing young people that unions don't give a toss about them.

 

[Groucho]

As usual the weekly Worker is full of inaccuracies gleaned from rumour and guesswork mixed with an unhealthy dollop of bullshit.

 

[belboid]

I'mn sure lots of it is, tho I picked out the report from Sheffield as most likely true - the author being at the meeting and all.

 

[Groucho]

Doesn't mean a thing. This author has reported from meetings he has attended in London in the past and has still managed to pile inaccuracy upon bollocks upon bullshit.

 

[Guineveretoo]

Surely PCS EC members are elected by the membership, not by a political party?

Yes, I am aware that that is a naive statement, but it is certainly the expectation/belief of a fair number of the PCS "rank and file".

For some reason, PCS EC is one of the worst/best (depending on your viewpoint) for political alliances, including amongst its staff, who are usually tarred with one brush or another, as it were. I find it a bit bizarre, personally.

 

[belboid]

That bit still rings very true to me, from knowing several of the people involved. And similarly one could say your denial is also based on second or third hand reports of meetings you werent at.

 

[Groucho]

That bit still rings very true to me, from knowing several of the people involved. And similarly one could say your denial is also based on second or third hand reports of meetings you werent at.

I've not recorded any denials as such. I just pointed out that there is a lot of bullshit in the article.

 

[belboid]

mmm, surely if you are saying its bullshit, then you must be denying its veracity at the same time??!!

 

[mutley]

Surely PCS EC members are elected by the membership, not by a political party?

Yes, I am aware that that is a naive statement, but it is certainly the expectation/belief of a fair number of the PCS "rank and file".

For some reason, PCS EC is one of the worst/best (depending on your viewpoint) for political alliances, including amongst its staff, who are usually tarred with one brush or another, as it were. I find it a bit bizarre, personally.

Yes they are, but a particular group can organise for then to be nominated and campaign for them etc or not. If not, they can try and organise it themselves, or join up with some other network.

 

[Groucho]

mmm, surely if you are saying its bullshit, then you must be denying its veracity at the same time??!!

Yes. But I haven't said which bits are out and out bollocks and which bits may not be.

 

[Groucho]

And similarly one could say your denial is also based on second or third hand reports of meetings you werent at.

I was at the London Left Unity meeting.

 

[belboid]

so, Martin Johns has resigned from the SWp & Sue Bond has apologised for getting it wrong then.

Will that be enough for her to avoid being disciplined? Sounds like it...

 

[Nigel Irritable]

so, Martin Johns has resigned from the SWp & Sue Bond has apologised for getting it wrong then.

Will that be enough for her to avoid being disciplined? Sounds like it...

Apparently she has "admitted she was wrong to vote for the deal, apologised to the party and has made a commitment that she will not break party discipline again". Then presumably she denounced her neighbours for anti-party activities...

Fourteen PCS members spoke in a debate that lasted for around an hour and a half. Many spoke of the way that there was a growing mood among members, and across the unions, against the deal.

Unfortunately, Sue Bond and Martin John, the two Socialist Workers Party (SWP) members on the PCS civil service workers’ union national executive, had voted to support the framework at a recent meeting of the executive.

This was despite a meeting with the SWP industrial organiser and another leading SWP member in the PCS where it was made clear that they should vote against the deal.

Sue Bond, who is a PCS vice-president, has since admitted she was wrong to vote for the deal, apologised to the party and has made a commitment that she will not break party discipline again.

Prior to last Saturday’s meeting Martin John had decided to resign from the SWP. At a recent meeting of the SWP party council, a delegate body for representatives of every branch across the country, a number of delegates condemned their decision to vote for the framework.

Members were angry that party representatives on a union executive had voted against party policy, breaking discipline, and had voted for a deal which lets down future generations of workers.

Last weekend’s meeting for PCS members voted to reaffirm its support of the SWP’s position over the pensions deal. It also voted to censure Sue Bond and Martin John.

 

[articul8]

Like the article's title: "The SWP's clear verdict on the pensions deal"

 

[Nigel Irritable]

The Popular Front for the Liberation of the CPSA have a very detailed report of the SWP's star chamber / caucus meeting up on their site. They also print what they claim are Martin John's letter of resignation, Sue Bond's self-flaggelation and the SWP CC's letter to its members.

SACRIFICE APPEASES THE TIN-POT GODS

SWP Fraction Meeting Report

The SWP met in secret in The Bastille Camden on Saturday 12th November to discuss the breach of the party line by Martin JOHN and Sue BOND. Great care was taken to ensure the meeting wasn't advertised to the “sectarians” as the last time they met the Socialist Carcase turned up to leaflet the meeting. An embarrassed Phil PARDOE got into an argument with Charlie MCDONALD as they were surplus to the SWP requirement. The other problem was there were more people lobbying the SWP than actually attending the meeting. The SWP are currently paranoid about “leaks” and their Industrial Organiser Martin SMIFF has been investigating the recent leak to the “Weekly Worker” which caused the SWP to have a fit. No doubt this report will cause a few sleepless nights, too.

Around 30 SWP members turned up, including full timers. So important was this meeting to the SWP that in addition to SMIFF, Chris HARMAN (chief MULLAH) and three other minor full timers were sent along to to sort out the internal crisis that has arisen over Martin JOHN and Sue BOND voting against the party line on the PCS NEC over the Pensions agreement.

Continues at:
http://www.pflcpsa.com/nov_05_swp.htm