EPSU President addresses UK affiliate PCS annual conference, 16 May 2007, Brighton
(24 May 2007) EPSU president, Anne-Marie Perret, addressed PCS delegates at a fringe meeting fighting for global peace and economic justice. The meeting was held against the backdrop of PCS 1000-strong delegate annual conference which voted, amongst others, to continue the campaign and industrial actions against the 100.000 job cuts in the civil service and for above inflation pay rises.
Anne-Marie Perret gave a round up of the main issues facing French public sector workers, which are similar to the UK, namely below-inflation pay rise, bogus collective bargaining and job cuts threats especially in education and finance ministries. She thanked PCS for sending a delegation to France during the strike in the public sector last February. The cooperation with PCS was much appreciated included also ongoing work on driving examiners. She also thanked the PCS conference for adopting an emergency resolution for stepping up solidarity with French trade unions in the difficult times ahead with the freshly elected Sarkosy-led right-wing Government. Clearly “Sarkoland”, as Anne-Marie called it, will not be a good place to live in for civil servants. She concluded by urging delegates to sign the ETUC petition, strongly supported by EPSU, for an EU legal protection on public services as the EU is impacting increasingly on all public sector workers.
Louise Richards, chief executive of War on Want explained the role of her non-for profit organisation in fighting roots of poverty in developing countries. The best way to fight poverty is to first recognise it is a political matter and thus avoidable. War takes/took place in 80% of the poorest countries. War on want shares a joint agenda with trade unions on anti-privatisation and quality public services as critical to fight poverty. War on want also runs campaigns to stop companies’ tax dodging which amounts to 250 Billion pounds a year in the world and remove the pro-privatisation conditionality attached to development funds by the UK government.
Ruth Tanner, War on Want senior campaign officer, gave a first-hand account of the situation in Palestine, which she recently visited with Clare Short (former labour cabinet Minister who resigned against UK involvement in the war in Iraq) and Rodney Bickerstaffe (former EPSU president and Unison general secretary). The situation in the Gaza bank was deteriorating with acute poverty, shortage of clean water and electricity and increasing control checks. The wall, ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice, was splitting not only Israelis from Palestinians but also Palestinian families. Suspension of EU and US aid to the new Palestinian government was exacerbating the problems. War on Want calls for an end to the wall and to boycott import produce grown in Israeli illegal settlements in the Golan Heights. A demonstration organised by the Enough coalition will be held on 9 June to protest against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
A trade union representative from South African National Union of Miners highlighted the 3 main challenges in his country, namely employment, poverty and inequalities. In South Africa energy remains in public hands thanks to the struggle of trade unions.
A UK-based delegation from the exiled Chagos Islanders (Indian ocean near the Maldives islands) called for support for their right to go home which the UK and US governments are currently blocking. Some 2000 Chagos islanders were forced into exile 40 years ago when the UK leased the largest island, Diego Garcia, to the US to use as a military base. The base is currently used for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The lease ends in 2012. A UK High court vindicated the islanders but the UK and US governments have a residency veto on the islands. Trade unions can help by raising awareness and putting pressure on the UK government.
Hugh Lanning, PCS deputy general secretary, closed the meeting stressing the common agenda of public service trade unions across the world. International and European matters are an extension of domestic affairs. It is important to continue the fight against privatisation, for quality public services and justice. He urged delegates to sign the ETUC petition for an EU framework for public services. Solidarity for trade unions meant helping with what we know best as trade unionists without substituting to local action. International work means raising awareness at all levels of trade union structures, campaigning, lobbying governments and training. Thanking all the speakers, Hugh Lanning said this was the conference’s first fringe meeting on international matters and that the experience should be renewed.
Read the full text of EPSU President’s address:
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