The election for the General Secretary of PCS has begun in earnest as untoward suggestions are made to the candidate from the Independent Left, Bev laidlaw.
In a statement released yesterday Bev writes:
I want to clarify something. I am not standing as a PCS General Secretary candidate to unseat anyone or gain control over our union. Several people have asked or implied that as there are now 3 candidates I should consider stepping aside so there is only 1 candidate opposing Mark Serwotka and that is the best way to get rid of him.
The reason I have stood is because that I and other IL members/supporters believe in the platform I am standing on and the principles I have had since becoming a member of PCS over 27 years ago.
Given the only other candidate other than the vainglorious one himself is the Socialist Party candidate Marion Lloyd it doesn't take any effort to guess where this proposal came from. Hell hath no fury like scorned lovers or comrades in this case as the say!
Marion has more nominations than Bev due to residual SP activism in the union and her group Presidency but given the recent election of John Maloney as Assistant general Secretary and the decline of Serwotka's base (he got far less nominations than in previous years) the contest would seem more wide open than in the past. A lot of Serwotka and Marion's support will come from the same camp whilst others will be looking for an alternative.
A three way split makes Bev a reasonable bet, though still an outside chance. Perhaps members will go for a different leadership. If they bother to vote that is. So few do.
Meanwhile another bunch from what was Militant known as Socialist Appeal and still buried deep in the Labour Party have interviewed Mark Serwotka though only the hardcore activists will bother their sycophancy which is more down to their sectarian desire to further isolate and humiliate their former partners in the Socialist Party.
PCS has declined in size and influence under Serwotka and the Socialist Party's joint disastrous leadership over the years. PCS became a tool for their political desires and agenda's. PCS ceased being a representative union and became by design an "activists led" union.
Both Serwotka and his former Socialist Party allies have failed their members. Their disagreement comes down to both simply wanting control over the largest of the civil service unions. Neither have ever had the members interests at heart.
Despite my substantial disagreements with Bev Laidlaw she would seem the better choice and is certainly a decent individual.
Bev Laidlaw's campaign can be found here: bev4gs.com
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