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PSA Dispute

On June 20 PSA Electricity workers gave 14 days notice of intention to take some form of direct action in their over 3 year old house rents / house purchase dispute with the Government.

By Friday June 22 the "PSA Withdrawal of Recognition Bill" had been introduced into Parliament. What relation there was between these two events is difficult to say except that as World War One followed an assination in Serbia, the one followed the other.

The day the bill was introduced, and in the early part of the following week, meetings took place in government departments where hundreds of government workers registered opposition to the bill.

By last Tuesday a series of mass meetings had begun. 3,000 Wellington PSA members met in the Town Hall and voted for an immediate half-day stop work meeting if the Government attempted to enforce the provision of the Bill. Other meetings committed thousands of public sector workers around the country to action if the PSA was derecognised.

Support for the PSA has been widespread. The FoL, the Australian public service union, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and others have resoundingly registered support for the PSA's right to exist.

So far the PSA leadership has stood firm, refusing to back down in its support for the electricity workers, although this would remove the derecognition threat. They know [unclear: at] if they back down, this time it won't be the last. Public servants are presently debating what to do to get rid of the bill.

Why the widespread agitation amongst public servants - surely they're one of the moderate of moderate unionists. Why such a firm stand by the PSA leadership - surely this has been a leadership noted for its willingness to renegotiate and compromise?

The answer lies in the effect of the bill if enacted. 68,000 people would have their union abolished. Any new union would be formed along lines dictated by the Minister of State Services - that is, the official employer. If the PSA backs down the same result will occur - it will only take a bit longer to reach the same point.

PSA members may have conflicting ideas about what a union should do but they know they want one and they're prepared to fight for it.

It's hard to see this move as a precedent as it is so monstrous in itself, but consider, if the PSA loses this fight, who is next on the list. Students' Association and University Teachers are stopping for a day soon - longer than PSA electricity workers have done in their whole 50+ year history. Its the sad logic of the right ward drift of capitalist societies in crises that all attacks become precedents and all people are potential victims. That why we need unity and what makes even "small" matters of principle so important.

Bruce Robinson.