Cpsa Why We Call for a Broad Left

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ded colleagues, the NEw was Losinska ano ner cronies in this caught between growing milit- year's ballot would be a major ancy on the one hand and set-back.

the other. also look critically at the Faced with this, the left programme and practice of the cover of many on , the NEC left-talkers-in particular the To an even greater extent than most other unions, the CPSA is split into left' and 'right' factions.

The Broad Left has proved an important organisational focus for opposing. the Thatcherite policies of the Moderate/Daylight grouping led the 'lefts' stood up to the tests of the last 12 months?

When the Tories came to power the first attack on the civil service came in the form of the 3-month ban on recruitment (a 22% cut in staff).

In response to this and various other rumblings about cuts and selling off sections of the civil service to the private sector, the National Executive of the CPSA came up with a system of sanctions (overtime bans, bans on temporary promotion and on casuals, etc).

WSL members in the CPSA fought for a policy of strike action, arguing that sanctions were divisive and simply gave the initiative to management.

Suspensions

Management in the DHSS duly took the initiative and began suspending members, tirst of all at Breckfield in Liverpool and then at Kenington, Nuneaton and the Department of National Savings in Glasgow.

With sections of the membership showing their willingness to support suspen11 - 11.- ATTIN management intransigence on began to crumble.

president Peter Coltman (a full-time official and Militant supporter, engineered a back-to-work deal.

The NEC voted 12-10 in favour of the deal with no consultation with the Glasgow branch.

Finally the settlement was: presented to the 3,500 strong branch as a fait accompli and the full-tirners were brought in to knife the struggles at Kenington, Nunsaton and Finsbury Park:

Tatters Since then the sanctions campaign has remained in tatters and the management and central government have gained confidence to pressure further attacks on civil service workers.

Thatcher and Howe have announced plans to cut nearly 100 And inhs with more in the pipeline.

Over this year's pay claim the NEC lefts again crumbled when management unilaterally changed the review date by five weeks.

This meant that the bureaucracy was able to sew up the deal before seeing if members were willing to stick out tor the full claim.

Revolutionaries and militants in the CPSA must ensure that the Broad Lett increases its majority on the national leadership; and there is no doubt that victory for But CPSA members must Such a line up can only going gets tough-and there is no doubt that the year ahead is going to be very tough for the CPSA rank and file unless the current leadership crisis is resolved and a principled fighting programme is adopted.

As a minimal starting point the Broad Left must kick out all those who use it as an electoral platform and yet refuse to fight for its existing policies or even Annual Conference policies. Losinska