The Popular Front for the Liberation of the C.P.S.A

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

Wot you mean you can't read it properly? Ok, heres the text:

PAT WOMERSLEY TELLS WHY SHE QUIT THE BROAD LEFT

At conference last year I resigned from the Broad Left group and joined the Moderates. I could have made my move after conference much more quietly but, having made my decision, I decided it should take effect immediately.

I had been most unhappy with the Broad Left for over a year.

I had thought things might improve. Instead, they got worse.

Political in-fighting was rife and the group which, when I joined it, had been motivated by membership interest, began to lurch close to the Far Left.

Its policies ceased to have anything in common with the average member. They were, and still are, dictated by the small political groups which form the Broad Left.

That must he obvious to anyone who has ever attended a Broad Left Conference.

In other words, what they are about has nothing at all to do with what the members want. It has everything to do with what they intend to impose upon them.

Apathy

Their policies will not benefit the members, but they will instead, if apathy by our members allows them to benefit greatly the political parties they represent.

External political influence within this union is far greater than most people would like to believe.

So, that was why I moved, because I could no longer be a party to policies I did not believe in.

I am deeply grateful to Ray Alderson, the Broad Left organiser, for helping me decide when. He suggested to me at conference that the reason that the Broad Left had not been returned in a majority was because some people had not worked hard enough to achieve their policies.

I suggested to him that the defeat was because members did not like Broad Left policies. He then advised me that "anyone not toeing the line on every single issue next year will have to go, regardless of who they are".

I resigned the following morning, leaving those who are prepared to have their strings pulled by the Broad Left conference behind me.

Contribution

I joined the Moderate Group because felt that their polices are far more in line with membership interests and because I felt that I could make a contribution there.

I was absolutely right, and have no regrets at all about my decision. This has been by far my happiest year on the NEC because, like the others in the Moderate Group, I am working completely unfettered for the things I believe in.

I do have worries, however, about the membership of CPSA in general, who seem unable to see ahead to the dangers that apathy will bring.

Non-attendance at AGMs and mandating meetings can only result is a moderate branch led by Left-wing officials, supporting at conference Left-wing policies which are detrimental to the members' interest.

This is something we have to change.

We have to create the awareness that democracy in not only having rights, it is expressing them. If we can do that then we have a fine moderate future ahead of us.

Principles

I was asked at a meeting recently for my definition of the word 'moderate', and this was my answer. Being moderate in putting membership interest before self-interest, and being motivated by trade union principles and not by party politics. It in fighting for what you believe in, because you know it is what the members want.

That description, as I am sure you will agree, fits the vast majority of CPSA members.

We in the Moderate Group have worked really hard during the past year on your behalf. Obviously, we have not been able, in that short time, to achieve everything we set out to do.

Which is why we need your help in the future.

My move to the Moderate Group was the best I ever made: my only regret in that I didn't join it sooner.

I urge all of you who are concerned for the future of CPSA, and indeed for the future of this country, to join us too.

__________________________________________________________________________

THE MAKING OF A PRESIDENT

Broad Left are split between Lever and Coltman

The Broad Left Group in the CPSA has been split right down the middle over their presidential nomination.

As reported in previous issues of Daylight the official candidate Is Communist Party member Peter Coltman but the "Militant" (Marxist Paper for Labour and Youth) faction are backing Len Lever.

The matter has now been discussed at the so-called Broad Left "conference" and the Communists have won she day.

A report in the Morning Star of April 10, notes that Coltman has been reaffirmed as the Broad Left candidate.

This does not, of course, rule out the possibility of a deal being struck between Coltman and Lever which would result in Coltman withdrawing from the race. We will have to wait until the very last moment to see whether Coltman pulls out or not.

The arguments centred around tactics. Although Coltman is regarded by moderates as a hard-line Communist, and therefore just the man for the Stalinist element in the Broad Left, the opportunist Militant group regard Lever as the more popular candidate, and therefore the one to support.

Lever did, indeed get more nominations than Coltman and the deep disagreement in the Left-wing group could result in a split vote - an unusual occurrence for the normally well-disciplined Broad Left.

This is all good news for the CPSA Moderates who are united behind Kate Losinska. Kate, who was ruthlessly ousted from the presidency two years ago because she dared to speak out against the Communists, has now climbed back, and was elected as vice-president at last year's conference.

She is now in a strong position to regain the presidency, but only if we remain united behind her.

Any defection to either Coltman or Lever will be wasted votes, and could prove fatal.

_________________________________________________________________

SOC acrobats prepare for conference

When the president opens conference on May 8, be should possibly wear a circus ringmasters uniform.

For, besides she usual wild animal acts (Broad Left and Redder Tape antics), we will be subjected to some breathtaking acrobatics from the standing (upside down) orders committee.

Following the tragic death of Bill Burton, the Left have full control of this committee. The chairman is Ms Oughton and the other members are B. Houston and A. McFadyen.

This has given them the opportunity to juggle with the motions to their hearts content. With the present Moderate NEC coming in for a lot of unwarranted criticism, the SOC appear to have been exploiting their position and placing Left-wing motions of censure at the head of sections.

Needless to say, many motions from Moderate branches have been ruled out of order.

When the election for a junior standing orders member takes place you should vote for Pauline King and rule Ms Oughton out of order.

Some of the standing orders indiscretions are given here, but we cannot give a full list. To do that would require a special bumper edition of Daylight.

*PAY: Once again we have an anti-PR U composite (containing five motions) ahead of a pro-PRU composite containing eight Motions.

Question: Since we decided to keep PRU last year, shouldn't Composite 1 be given a C marking?

*The closed shop: One motion that has been given a C marking is 1059 which asks for a ballot on the issue of a closed shop.

Question: What Is the standing orders committee afraid of? They have consistently refused to allow free discussion on this question. Imagine a closed shop with them in charge!

*Terry Adams: Despite the fact that the NEC composite approving Mr Adams appointment contains no less than 80 motions, the SOC have placed a solitary motion before it.

This of course condemns the NEC (for doing their job?) and praises NEC Left-wing extremists who have associated themselves with Terry Adams Defence Campaign.

*Occupation of Nightingale Lane: Like any good circus, there is an animal act at Brighton this year. Or rather there was at Clapham last year.

This happened wham a pack of ignorant, ill-mannered louts stormed into our Nightingale Lane offices and terrorised the staff.

They pulled telephonists from their seats and used the official telephone to call Gibraltar urging members to reject the agreement.

They also rampaged from top to bottom of the building-turned over the GS and DGS offices. This happening is being investigated but motions saying that this "Witch-hunt" Turn to Page 2

or not because fortunately I only had the front page. (Barrabas)