PCS conference defeats its executive motion on merger with Unite

The annual conference of civil service union PCS, after a lengthy debate described both as ‘heated‘ and ‘balanced‘, voted this morning to reject the motion from its executive on a merger between PCS and Unite, by 109,326 to 73,212 on a card vote. The conference did pass an emergency motion which, based on reports on Left Futures and elsewhere, criticised the apparent inconsistencies between information provided to PCS members and that to the Unite executive about the talks which have taken place, but approved continuing talks. These would, however, be subject to explicit conditions, including “ensuring a political fund independent of the Labour Party.”

The PCS leadership insists that the talks will go on but since the Unite EC agreed only that “the transfer of engagements will be on the basis of our existing rule book“, and the PCS motion proposing initial talks with Unite passed only by a slim margin at last year’s conference, today’s decision must surely make the Unite takeover less likely.

Moving the motion, PCS president Janice Godrich, of the PCS left faction Left Unity and a member of the Socialist Party, said:

We have a duty to see if the talks with Unite could produce proposals that would mean an even more effective, campaigning, fighting organisation that can really make a difference in the fight against austerity.”

Many delegates, although not opposed to merger in principle, wanted to ensure that PCS representatives were set clear conditions. Leeds representative, Jane Aitchison, supporting the alternative motion, tweeted:

Debate on unite merger at #PCSADC today. Should we set conditions on talks? Of course! That’s how you negotiate the best deal. Vote 463

— Jane Aitchison (@JaneAitchison) May 21, 2014

She was supported by her Bradford colleague, Rob Williams:

Merger debate day at #pcsadc We need to build better unions, not just bigger ones Support A463 Reject A21 — Rob Williams (@robwilliamspcs) May 21, 2014

East Midlands delegate Julie Webster, reports the Morning Star, said retaining the union’s independent political fund must be the “bottom line”:

I’m not opposed to a merger in principle but it depends on what basis the merger happens.”

Ian Albert, newly re-elected PCS national executive member and supporter of PCS Democrats (a predominantly Labour Party, centre-left faction) tweeted:

Spot on “@AlexDavidson82: To take the position of totally ruling out a merger is as daft as supporting a merger at all costs. #pcsadc”

— Ian Albert (@Ian_Albert) May 21, 2014

PCS Democrats (which has just triumphed in the PCS executive elections in alliance with Left Unity) has made clear its position on the merger talks (though not yet on the merger itself):

We know that talks with Unite are a sensitive issue for members. PCS is a proud and independent union. That independence must not be given up lightly. And we know many PCS members will have concerns about joining a union that is a Labour affiliate.

This merger is absolutely not a done deal in our view – contrary to press reports!

PCS Democrats have taken NO view yet on whether we support the merger. That’s premature. But we do support the principle of talks with Unite. We will work closely with our Democracy Alliance Left Unity partners to see what can be achieved in negotiation on behalf of PCS members. We want to see maximise information/consultation with members and activists.

It has also agreed a joint statement with Unite’s centre/centre-left faction UniteNOW. One issue that stands out is the openness and transparency with which the negotiations are carried out:

Both PCS Democrats and UniteNOW want to ensure that members of both unions have sight of the same information and communications. This has not always been the case up to now…. Transparency in this process is absolutely critical to building confidence amongst lay members that this transfer will take place for the right reasons and in their interests and not those of officials or political groupings; Lay member participation must be at the centre of the talks and should be equally balanced on both sides as well as inclusive of the diversity of political opinions within both PCS and Unite.

The statement goes on to the issue of the final decision on any proposed ‘merger’:

Neither PCS Democrats nor UniteNOW have taken a formal position yet on whether to support the transfer of PCS into UNITE. This must await the outcome of the talks and the detailed proposals that emerge. However, as it currently stands only PCS members are guaranteed a vote in this process. PCS NEC are also proposing to hold a special conference. We think that’s right in principle.  Therefore, both PCS Democrats and UniteNOW support the motion going to the UNITE Conference calling for a Special Recall Conference to give UNITE members a say as well on any final agreement.

Many Unite members will sympathise with that view — at present it is envisaged that the Unite decision will be made by its executive, according to former Unite EC member Ian Allinson without whose blog even less would have been known about the discussions to date. More controversial, however, is the joint statement’s line on the accountability of full-time officials:

In an organisation of this size it is not acceptable that the only full-time officer elected position is that of General Secretary. If a merger is agreed, both PCS Democrats and UniteNOW will work together to develop proposals for a future Rules Conference that aim to increase the number of elected senior officials as well as the accountability of existing national and regional officials. This is already policy within PCS.

This is very much not the prevailing ethos of Unite whose philosophy is that of a lay member democracy which it inherits from the TGWU. UniteNOW comprises people who, on the whole, come from an Amicus background which, on this matter at least, is probably more significant than that they stand to the right of Unite’s dominant faction, the United Left.

The full text of the two PCS motions debated today is set out below:

The alternative motion, carried (A463)

Reports of the UNITE special Executive Meeting held on 17 April raise grave concerns about the “transfer of PCS engagements” into Unite by as early as January 2015, with no change to the Unite rule book and no change to their political fund. The reports of this meeting appearing in the press and on the internet appear to contradict information given to PCS members and the Briefing no 1 that appeared on 22 April.

These developments are not addressed by motions already agreed by SOC1 for ADC 2014.

1. Timetable
According to Briefing no 1 “Talks are at an early stage”. However the UNITE Executive authorised progress to formal talks with PCS. The possible timetable reported to Unite was a PCS special conference held in July or August, and a ballot of members held in September to allow PCS to join Unite from January 2015.

2. Rules and democratic structures
The Unite Executive received a report that no significant revision of UNITE’S rules would be required and that the transfer of engagements will be on the basis of their existing rule book. However Briefing no 1 states: “Talks will take place on maximising the democratic involvement of PCS members in line with ADC decisions. ”

3. Political affiliation Motions
A31 passed in 2013 stated that any talks should be on the basis of “Ensuring a Political Fund independent of the Labour Party and run in line with current PCS 14 policy.” However the UNITE Executive received a report that Unite are expecting no change to their political affiliations will be sought or considered in the context of the formal discussions.

4. Merger or takeover
Reports to PCS members and motions A30 and A31 passed at ADC 2013 have always discussed a merger with UNITE. However, it now seems that formal talks will be on
the basis of a transfer of PCS’s engagements into Unite. The report to the UNITE Executive expects “short-term transitional arrangements will suffice to ensure the full and complete integration of the PCS membership into Unites existing structures.”

Conference therefore resolves that:

1. A full report on talks so far should be circulated urgently to members. This should include what steps have been taken by PCS negotiators to ensure the minimum conditions laid down in both motions A30 & A31 from ADC 2013;
2. Further talks should only go ahead on the basis of ensuring that these minimum conditions are achieved; and
3. Written reports of all talks should be given to the NEC and circulated to branches.

The defeated executive motion A21

Conference notes that ADC 2013 carried motions A30 and  A31 which recognised the potential benefits to members of a merger with Unite. ADC authorised the national executive  to open discussions on merger if approached by Unite which has now occurred. Conference believes that a merger with Unite could create a new, powerful force for fighting back trade unionism in the public sector capable of shifting the current passive approach of other unions which led to the squandering of the momentum generated by the joint union action over pensions on 30 November 2011.

We believe that a merged union could also create a new type of union capable of bridging the public/private divide, increasing the bargaining power of members in both sectors. It could potentially greatly strengthen the campaigning work successfully carried out by PCS over a number of years.

Conference notes that following a proposal made by Unite initial exploratory discussions on the structure of any formal talks took place late in 2013 and were reported to
the NEC. Subsequently, and in line with the decision made at ADC 2013, talks commenced on 24th February 2014. These discussions are (at the time of writing) at an early
stage. A full report on 24th February meeting was made to the NEC in March. Further meetings with Unite were due to take place later in March 2014.

The PCS approach to the talks is based on our vision of the potential for creating a new powerful trade union force capable of acting across the public and private sectors, and on the terms outlined in A30 and A31 from ADC 2013. These include that merger talks must be conducted in a transparent and democratic manner and take into account the principles which have underpinned our success in building PCS as a campaigning union: lay-led democracy and membership participation, strong workplace organisation and a clear commitment to equality.

Conference notes that, at its March meeting, the NEC agreed an extensive communications plan including:

1. reports for reps on the details of talks
2. an update to the Senior Lay Reps Consultative Forum
3. a newsletter for members with additional specific materials for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland,
4. articles for members in PCS People and other PCS outlets,
5. a video for members setting out the reasons for the talks and our objectives.

Conference instructs the NEC, on any conclusion of the talks, to convene a special delegate conference to debate the terms of any merger proposals and take decisions on whether to proceed to a membership ballot.

Image credit: Alexander Davidson ‏@AlexDavidson82 (delegate to PCS conference) “Dave Owens from DWP Liverpool moving motion A463 setting out conditions on any merger talks”