Aslef general secretary DAVE CALFE looks at how rail workers and miners stood together against wage cuts 100 years ago – and why the legacy of collective action endures today
PCS MEMBERS have won a historic victory in our recent ballot — one that follows an extremely successful period of targeted action in places like the Border Force, the Rural Payments Agency, the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and some jobcentres facing closure.
This has resulted in thousands of new joiners and unprecedented press coverage, and we’ve now called all member action today, February 1, alongside a number of other unions, as well as endorsing further plans for lots more targeted action.
At the moment, the government says that there is no more money, but that could change quickly as they see the sheer strength of feeling from so many workers coming together.
In part IV of a serialisation of his new book, JOHN McINALLY tells how austerity minister Francis Maude’s attempt to destroy the PCS Civil Service union totally backfired
Labour will find increases in the state pension age are unacceptable, just as cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance, personal independence payments and universal credit are — it needs to change direction immediately, writes PCS general secretary FRAN HEATHCOTE
In the current climate, it is vital to bust the myths and put forward the case for a humane and decent social security system that supports people, argues FRAN HEATHCOTE



