BY NICK BRAUN
The right-wing majority on the executive of the 283,000-strong Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has declared the election of Socialist Alliance supporter Mark Serwotka as PCS general secretary "invalid" and that the unelected outgoing general secretary, Barry Reamsbottom, will remain in the post until 2004.
The newly elected right-wing majority on the PCS executive met on May 23 to rubber stamp Serwotka's removal. A self-proclaimed Blairite and Labour Party member, Reamsbottom has never stood for election as PCS general secretary.
The PCS was formed in 1998 after two civil service unions merged to form what is now the eighth largest union in Britain. Reamsbottom was general secretary of the largest of the two and it was agreed that he would lead the PCS until a successor was found.
The PCS executive recommended a membership referendum to decide whether or not a new general secretary needed to be elected; a staggering 97% voted in favour.
Reamsbottom could not even attract the minimum nominations from union branches required to be a candidate for general secretary. On October 19, 2000, he signed an agreement to work with the general secretary elect and then give up his office on May 31, 2002.
On December 6, 2000, Serwotka was declared general secretary with a majority of 40,740 to 33,942. Serwotka campaigned openly as a socialist who would fight for a membership-led union. He also pledged to receive no more than the average wage of PCS members if elected.
In the 18 months since, Serwotka and Reamsbottom shared the duties of general secretary.
Reamsbottom and friends were determined to unseat Serwotka. April elections for the 46-member PCS executive, in which the right gained a slim 24 to 22 majority, gave them their chance.
Reamsbottom supporters secretly organised an executive meeting for May 23. This meeting was correctly declared unconstitutional by PCS president Janice Godrich. Reamsbottom and his supporters orchestrated a "decision" that Serwotka's election was invalid.
Reamsbottom and Serwotka have since called rival PCS executive meetings. Both are still at their desks.
A storm of protest has engulfed the union. Most workers at PCS head office are still taking orders from Serwotka and have threatened strike action in his support. Serwotka has initiated proceedings in the High Court that will begin on July 15.
Serwotka supporters have called for a special conference, which requires the backing of branches representing 25% of the membership, to defeat Reamsbottom's coup.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, June 19, 2002.
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