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From The Socialist newspaper, 25 June 2008
PCS union sends letter of solidarity to Unison
As Unison started its annual conference, ahead of the council workers' vote to strike over pay, Mark Serwotka (general secretary of the PCS union) sent the following letter of support and solidarity to Unison's general secretary Dave Prentis, calling for united industrial action.
Dear Dave
Firstly may I offer my solidarity and wish you and your colleagues a successful conference.
Can I also, on behalf of our national executive committee offer our support to your campaigns on public sector pay, and in particular to your members in local government.
Should they vote in favour of industrial action, we will do whatever is necessary to support them, including if possible coordinating our action over pay with yours.
The latest inflation figures show how vital it is that we secure pay increases which protect public servants from a cut in their living standards. We all face the consequences of the cap on public sector pay increases, and our best chance of beating the cap will come if we fight together.
I look forward to working together with Unison to win a better deal for the public sector.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Serwotka, general secretary PCS
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In The Socialist 25 June 2008:
Prices up, Wages down...Summer of action needed!
Workers' battles win results: Tankers drivers' success upsets bosses
Socialist Party editorial
Editorial: Summer of discontent?
PCS union sends letter of solidarity to Unison
Campaign for a new workers' party: Conference - Sunday 29 June, 11am - 5pm
Unison Conference 2008
Unison conference 2008: Fighting to reclaim the union for its members
Unison Service Group Executives - socialists elected
National Shop Stewards Network Conference
Fighting, democratic unions not witch hunts
Socialist Party campaigns
Thousands show their hatred for racism
Student unions can be pushed into action
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
Review: False 'gods' of a failing system
International socialist news and analysis
Zimbabwe: Mugabe's militias crush his political opponents
Afghanistan - paying the price of western occupation
Summit fails to halt runaway oil prices
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Cut throat competition threatens NHS
"With polyclinics you're just a number"
Origins of the Labour Party
'Old' Labour - born out of workers' struggles
Socialist Party workplace news
Brighton bus drivers match inflation
Teachers fight academy plans in Bolton
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