NOW that nominations for the PCS’s next general secretary election are open, Communists in PCS and in the wider trade union movement recognise the imperative of creating and building extra-parliamentary action if Britain is to both elect a left Labour government and to throw of years of New Labour, Lib Dem and Conservative Party austerity and anti working-class policies.

These policies have seen people die, forced students into massive debt and in some cases prostitution, ratcheted up racist language, actions and policies including forced deportations and seen cuts in our wages and other terms and conditions.

A left Labour government gives us an opportunity to stop and reverse these attacks. To win trade union rights, to enforce anti-discrimination laws and to reintroduce a proper social security system. But this won't happen automatically; we must work for it.

Since its formation after the attempted right-wing coup PCS, often in the front line, has been clear about the requirement to build support for our demands, for fair pay and pensions, for proper staffing. We have supported anti-racist movements, building them in our workplaces. We have been there on demonstrations, building unity. In other words we as a union have played our part in supporting those under attack and the building of a mass movement.

Over the last 19 years local disputes have been supported, national disputes have been called. Some have been won and some have not. But at all stages members and local reps have been fully involved. When we look at the era before 2000 this certainly wasn't the case and, with honourable exceptions, it’s not always the case today in other unions.

Again such a change doesn't happen automatically. Resources have been put into organising. Reversing the fall in membership, maintaining our income whilst at the same time maintaining our focus on organising has created tensions – but if PCS hadn’t, we would have accepted that as a union our influence would diminish over time.

There is no doubt that PCS is a more active union, one that involves our representatives and members than its predecessors. Resources and activity have been allocated and supported when members are involved in action including in our equality and young member sections and groups and our nations and regions.

These steps have moved PCS thinking and membership to the left. As we have said before, most activists are left-wing now, whilst at the same time not being in an organised faction. This significant fact is in part due to the role played by Mark Serwotka. He lets activity develop.

Communists have never given unequivocal support to Serwotka, for example our analysis of the EU project differs – we see the EU as being a capitalist institution incapable of reform. But we do know that he is part of a group of those general secretaries who has shifted the trade union movement to the left, one that no longer sees compromise as the modus operandi of trade unions, and one that helped deliver a left-led Labour Party.

To oppose Serwotka at this time is to oppose left-wing working-class politics based on solidarity being an intrinsic part of PCS and other unions. Such politics have found their way into the Labour Party now, and we must make sure they are here to stay. A defeat for Serwotka would be seen quite rightly as a setback for the left. A vote for him is therefore a vote for left advance.

Tony Conway, former member of PCS NEC.