THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF CPSA
FIGHTING ON IN OUR 45th YEAR BUT A BIT RETIRED NOW
FREEDOM! UNITY! SOCIALISM!
ONE CIVIL SERVICE UNION,
ONE GLORIOUS DESTINY!
REVOLUTION UNTIL VICTORY!
TROUNCE THE TROTS 2K
This is the text from Barry's latest rant. The "Belt and Braces approach" now being augmented by the self supporting trousers of the Courts. How refreshingly different from 1978 - judge for yourselves as we roll back the years...Plus Ça Change...
PCS NATIONAL MODERATE GROUP
Dear Supporter
GENERAL SECRETARY ELECTION 2000
"The Socialist Party believe that defeat for Reamsbottom will create more favourable conditions for the Left to grow in the future." (Extract from Militant/Trotskyite newspaper The Socialist 8/9/00) Barry Reamsbottom defeated the Militant candidate in two general secretary elections (1992 & 1997).
Now our new union PCS is once again under a new Hard Left threat. Downing Street and the TUC are now aware of this. How humiliating for our union and its credibility.
How is this possible? At PCS conference in May, a cabal consisting of Trotskyites and old style Communists and the misnamed Membership First (MF) faction colluded to ram through a proposal for an unnecessary and unlawful general secretary election this year.
This is happening because, although Moderates won the largest number of seats on the NEC, MF formed a coalition with the five Trotskyites, ignored a detailed paper from Barry Reamsbottom, and charged ahead with their ballot without giving members the full story.
This means we are breaking Barry Reamsbottom's contract of employment and we could have a general secretary in waiting (on full GS salary) for another four years. Is that what your members want?
Worse. These sham democrats don't actually want an election, never mind what they spout in their leaflets, websites etc. The have gerrymandered the rules for nominations to ensure their candidate might not even need to stand in a ballot! At the last NEC they rammed through ballot regulations which require any candidate to secure nominations from at least 50 branches. This has never ever been required in any election in PCS, or its predecessors. No other union does this. So much for democracy! But it is also unlawful, and we will challenge It. So there may not even be an election.
In the great tradition of the National Moderate Group in this and previous unions we will fight back and win. Barry Reamsbottom has quite rightly launched legal action to protect his contractual position - any employee in his situation would.
But we have always believed in a belt and braces approach. That is why I ask you all now to arrange meetings within your branch to nominate Barry Reamsbottom as your general secretary candidate for this election.
As soon as you have held that meeting and the nomination has been cleared by your branch, please page me on the following number: 01523 737300 giving me your branch details. If you need any assistance, please contact me on the same number. We have never let the Hard Left/Trots run our unions before - and with your help they will not run our union in the future.
Yours sincerely
Bernard Harklns
National Moderate Group Election Co-ordinator