PCS Union supports our campaign

Submitted by Kathryn Busby on 27 May 2010

We are delighted that the very supportive Resolution A14 was passed at the Annual Conference of the Public and Commercial Services Union in Brighton, May 2010

This conference notes:

the comprehensive and persuasive findings set out by Professors Wilkinson and Pickett in their book "The Spirit Level", showing that more equal societies - those with a narrower gap between rich and poor - are more cohesive, healthier, suffer fewer social problems and are more environmentally sustainable;

that the UK is a deeply unequal society, characterised by a wide and deep range of social problems and this inequality affects PCS members irrespective of whether they work in the civil and public or private sectors;

that, as an example, the Whitehall Studies found that morbidity and mortality rates in the civil service are in sharp inverse ratio to grade.

Taking into account the overwhelming scientific evidence of the ill effects of inequality (in terms of morbidity and mortality rates, well being, crime, social trust and other social factors) this conference recognised that need to campaign for a radically more equal Britain, and that that begins, but is not confined to, our work as trade unionists representing large numbers of low paid workers.

Therefore, this conference instructs the NEC to:

1.Invite Professors Wilkinson and Pickett to present their findings to a national PCS forum to which representatives from the bargaining units will be invited to (such a forum could discuss other union business as well);Invite Professors Wilkinson and Picket to present their findings to an official conference fringe meeting during ADC 2011;

2.discuss with the Equality Trust (founded by Professors Wilkinson and Pickett to promulgate their ideas and to campaign for a more equal society), other trade unions, and labour movement figures such as John McDonnell MP, how we might work together to forge a radically more equal Britain and take joint initiatives to this end;

3.To encourage awareness amongst branches and members of the importance of the findings set out in "The Spirit Level" (e.g. by sending out suitable branch briefings; with permission reproducing material from the Equality Trust onto the PSC website);

4.To campaign within the civil and public sector for policies that seek to redress the effects of inequality on our members;

5.To support those campaigns that seek a more equal society in terms of income distribution.

Motion moved by DWP Devon and seconded by DfT London