Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

Mark Serwotka on mass strikes, privileged Tories and Arthur Scargill

A sneak preview of my interview with the Public and Commercial Services Union leader in this week's

By Mehdi Hasan Published 22 June 2011 16:21

This week's New Statesman includes an interview with Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union and one of the brains behind the mass strike scheduled for 30 June. The PCS will be joining three teachers' unions in staging a co-ordinated walkout, shutting down schools and government offices in the process, in protest over pension reforms, pay freezes and job losses.

Serwotka tells me that the Conservative-led coalition government is waging "class warfare" against public-sector workers and believes coalition ministers are indifferent to the fate of his members:

I don't think they give a shit," he says. "People who have lived in a bubble of privilege all their lives have no concept of what ordinary life is like."

The PCS leader warns that strikes by public-sector workers could "possibly" continue over the course of this parliament. Does he have a bottom line?

No one should have to pay any extra money unless their pension scheme valuation deems it necessary; there should be no central increase in the pension age and the government should be prepared to negotiate the inflation-indexing of pensions." But Serwotka doesn't believe that coalition ministers are interested in negotiations.

He says that, without strikes, the chances of the unions' negotiations with the government being successful are "nil". He also says he admires Arthur Scargill: .

"I admire a lot of what Scargill did," he says. "I don't share his politics but I admire the bravery of the National Union of Mineworkers leadership and I have no doubt that they were right to do what they did."

But they lost, I point out. "I don't take the view that we can't win," Serwotka insists.

Read the full interview in this week's NS, out on the news-stands tomorrow.

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Tags: Mark Serwotka Public Sector Pensions Strikes strike Conservatives Trade Unions

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View the discussion thread.

31 comments

Wed, 2011-06-22 19:38 — Luddite (not verified)

These pubic sector strikes are manner from heaven for the coalition government, the blatant inequality in pension provision is indefensible. Why should one worker wait until 66 to receive the state pension when another can retire much sooner with a more generous state pension, it's just not right. Let's never forgot which government and which chancellor destroyed one of the best funded private pension systems in the world. Millions are angry at this blatant inequality. Labour needs to be very careful, this issue could rip the Labour movement apart.

Wed, 2011-06-22 21:10 — acf1 (not verified)

Simple question. How much does Mark Serwotka earn, and how big is his pension pot?

He is no more in touch with the 'ordinary worker' than the Cabinet, and his mindless babbling serves his own ego, not his members.

Pot, kettle, black.

Wed, 2011-06-22 21:28 — Lou (not verified)

acf1

Mark Serwotka was and is an 'ordinary worker' and is clearly very much in touch with the ordinary workers who re-elected him with a majority of over 16000 votes above the other candidate who ran. He took an ordinary member's salary for nine years and whilst taking a higher wage since 2009 he repays a portion back to the union as well as donating a thousand pounds a month to campaign funds. He didn't breach his pledge, he had no choice. A spokesperson from the Union said on June 17th 2011 - “The salary is set by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and it’s set against the pay grade of everyone else who works at the PCS and is on a pay scale. It means you can’t come out of that pay scale because it undermines pay negotiations. The people who work here for the PCS are represented by the GMB and he wasn’t allowed to do that,”

You might want to read up on Mark's roots, upbringing and career to date and you will find that he very much is an ordinary worker in touch with the views of ordinary workers up and down the country.

Sun, 2011-06-26 17:15 — J Stewart (not verified)

The brains behind the strike? It does not need much brainpower to organise a strike All you need is a loudmouth to talk long enough and the sheep will follow

Fri, 2011-06-24 00:15 — Fraziel

You would think you might get some intelligent debate on here but unfortunately comments by the likes of RK and David Vintner prove otherwise.

Thu, 2011-06-23 01:23 — Josh (not verified)

Scargill was fond of calling strikes without mandates from his Union... I must admit that the current leadership of British trade unionism have done a wonderful job in massing the Trot minorities in their respective unions to force strikes with around 20% support of the entire union... ingenious. Perhaps Mr Serwotka could explain to me why I should work a labour-intensive, low paid job to pay taxes that contribute to his members' pension pots. The public sector workforce should do what the private sector does and pay its own money into its own pension pot

Thu, 2011-06-23 01:24 — Josh (not verified)

Perhaps Medhi Hasan thinks I'm a kaffir for advocating such a view

Thu, 2011-06-23 02:22 — thinkov

fuck off josh

and fuck off David vintner ( an extra special fuck you to you)

Thu, 2011-06-23 07:32 — Stuart Eels (not verified)

You are such a charmer thinkov, power to the people foxey! I think you should go and lie down in a dark corner, though that's probably what you do anyway.

Thu, 2011-06-23 10:06 — martybee (not verified)

Funny,, I thought that the retirement age was the same for everyone...currently 65 for a man...if someone has a seperately funded pension..private or industrial.. and amasses enough benefit to retire early it simply means that they have earned that right through contributions and long service in the scheme.. which is the exception rather than the norm. People need to look forward rather than side to side...lets try and improve the quality of life for all rather than one section trying to pull the other down.
PS I worked in the mining Industry and can verify from first hand experience that pay and conditions were poor until the Union (members) became a bit 'Bolshy'

Thu, 2011-06-23 10:21 — RK (not verified)

Sack 'em all. We will not notice a difference excepting solving the debt crisis!

Thu, 2011-06-23 10:23 — RK (not verified)

Alternatively Sack the current lot when they strike and recruit some new ones. This way we can solve the unemployment problem and allow non-workers what they want.

Thu, 2011-06-23 11:35 — RK (not verified)

Ladies and Gentlemen

Here is our leader Christine Blower....or rather her misdeeds.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8593393/Union-boss-pl...

Thu, 2011-06-23 11:45 — thinkov

fuck off rk

Thu, 2011-06-23 12:32 — acf1 (not verified)

Lou -

Even when Serwotka was newly elected, he was earning £56k and donating £1k a month to PCS. He was then given a 'housing allowance' of...£1k a month. He now earns in excess of £80,000 a year, and gets a further £26,000 in pension contributions paid for him, along with other allowances.

I honestly don't care what he earns - he's the CEO of a major organisation and should be paid well - but I abhor the way in which he attacks the privilege of others when he isn't in the least bit short of cash himself.

Thu, 2011-06-23 12:53 — C Baker

The pension issue needs addressing for everybody, both public and private sector workers and the state pension too. We need a solution that is good for everybody and achievable, realistic and affordable. There are so many sides to consider.

First. Basic state pensions.So everybody can survive and retire without starving etc. Is every european entitled to a uk state pension? Need to look at the whole system. Pension credit is a good idea for top up, or increase the basic state pension. But this has to be paid for.

Pension age. Raise it, but slowly and fairly- not overnight, so there are not any losers or shocks for people, like suddenly having to work another 6 years all of a sudden.

Private pensions. Avoid another Robert Maxwell crisis, or bank crash etc. Get people saving sooner with incentives.

Public sector pensions- if they are unaffordable, they won't be paid out if the money is not in the pot, so get real. However, many public sector workers will also get crap pensions after working hard, but a few get far too much. This is not sustainable. Honour existing contracts as best you can, but make new ones more realistic.

Regulate the pension sector more.

This is something we are all in together, so lets stop fighting and get some sane plans in place.

Thu, 2011-12-08 19:24 — LindbergMarley

The Coalition has been careful to protect the lower paid but it seems that the people at the top still do well at the expense of others. senior civil servants get six figure lump sums and private healthcare for life. Lets rebalance using Sir Humphrey's money...there are tens of thousands of them and they should pay more into the scheme for the lower paid public sector workers. http://www.personalinjurylaws.net/

Thu, 2011-06-23 14:33 — Lou (not verified)

acf1

So he can't have an opinion on what is happening to millions of people because he has a fabulous salary and doesn't have any cash worries, nor can he have an opinion on the privileged elite and their policies?

Money does not change your working class ethics and roots and whilst he may be privileged in the income and allowances he receives, at least he isn't far removed from the reality of everyday life for most people and fights to win them better lives, better pay and conditions and the opportunities he had to better himself.

Thu, 2011-06-23 14:33 — Ethan (not verified)

Oh and Thinkov if the answer is 'you need more and bigger powerful trade unions', then the question can only have been ..'How can I bankrupt a rich country in the shortest possible time?'

It's a service.

Thu, 2011-06-23 14:40 — 547iftkvxyyn

RK: Christine Blower is worth her salary on her looks alone.

Wed, 2011-06-22 16:35 — Scott (not verified)

Private pension holders often get told that we need to pay more due to a loss.

When public pensions were arranged, there were poor salaries. After the Unions had their way, salaries were raised, but pensions stayed as they were which has led to the unsustainable levels of cost. It's now just come to a head and needs dealing with. Maybe going back to rubbish pay instead?!?

Thu, 2011-06-23 14:29 — Ethan (not verified)

So your striking for the right to Rob from the Poor and give to the Rich. Think you've misunderstood the concept of Robin Hood there pal.

It's great for you and Bob Crow to say 'feck you I got mine' but just where do you thing your extra free pension cash really comes from? Haven't you realised yet that Governments don't have any money that isn't taken from the private sector.
Fred Kite alive and well living in Britain.

Wed, 2011-06-22 17:05 — Ethan (not verified)

I still haven't seen a single cogent explanation of why the private sector worker (possibly on minimum wage) must work longer than the public sector worker and receive a lesser pension to boot, simply to to subsidise public sector pensions.
A simple question Mr Serwotka and your answer?
Do you imagine that the private sector worker will sympathise in any way? You do? Can I have some of what your smoking then.

Wed, 2011-06-22 17:28 — thinkov

here's cogency for you,the weak tame unions within the private sector let their members down, low membership didn't help either.

Why should there be a race to the bottom?

Mark Is Brilliant -a rising star-met him a few times on cpsa training courses in the 80's a top top man up there with Bob crowe

Wed, 2011-06-22 17:54 — Scott (not verified)

Thinkov - The reason the Unions in private sectors are weak is that if they generally behaved the same as the Unions in the public sector, the business would be bankrupt and then no-one would have a job. As there is finite money in the private sector, they have to be realistic.

Wed, 2011-06-22 18:00 — Ray (not verified)

There's no denying that private sector pensions are low and that fewer and fewer people are joining the schemes, after all what is the point. But driving down the value of public sector pensions will not improve them in the slightest will it? Perhaps it's to make you feel better that public pensions are just as crap. Meanwhile I wonder what the politicians get and the company directors? Your beef shouldn't be with the public sector surely it should be with the employers and government. Instead of being happy public sector pensions are worse would it not make sense to strive for an improvement in private sector pensions too? Or do you believe like employers and shareholders that private sector profits are more important than their staff's living standards?

Wed, 2011-06-22 18:02 — Lou (not verified)

Ethan

I would rather fund the public sector from my taxes than the bank sector and I think you'll find that the taxpayer is funding the latter to a greater amount than it is the public sector.

Public sector workers are on average paid two and a half times less than the private sector across a variety of posts, teachers, nursing staff, doctors, social workers and child protection staff to name a few. The public sector provides some of our most essential services and it provides them very well for very poor pay, poor hours and for the vast majority poor pensions.

If child protection alone was in the hands of the private sector and not the public sector, it would cost the taxpayer far more to fund than it does now as the Govt has a legal duty to protect children and would have to pay the private sector to do the job the public sector does for much less.

The fact that the private sector employee has been poorly served by his employer is a separate issue.

Get rid of the public sector if you will, argue about how much it is costing the average taxpayer if you want to - but think very carefully about the ultimate cost to the taxpayer when the public sector is run by the private and then I think you might want to count your blessings for the public sector you have and how little of your tax actually funds it.

Wed, 2011-06-22 18:04 — thinkov

can't agree scott

somebody somewhere in the private sector mismanaged the pension pot.

It's a real shame for my fellow low paid private sector lot that they got ripped off,but why should we to?

Wed, 2011-06-22 18:07 — REPAY

I have sympathy for no "reductions where none is required by the scheme" but most public sector pensions are funded out of taxation. The Coalition has been careful to protect the lower paid but it seems that the people at the top still do well at the expense of others. senior civil servants get six figure lump sums and private healthcare for life. Lets rebalance using Sir Humphrey's money...there are tens of thousands of them and they should pay more into the scheme for the lower paid public sector workers.

Wed, 2011-06-22 18:35 — Gracie

I think all public sector workers should retire now and take up writing books, it's lucrative isn't it Mehdi?

To be working towards a retirement date, re negotiate a deal and before the ink is dry on that deal be told by millionaire toffs that your retirement date has been extended for years, that you have to pay 50% more and you will receive less is bad enough, but when you discover that the extra money your are being robbed of is not going into the pension pot but going directly into government coffers to pay down the deficit that bankers caused is really rubbing salt in it, especially, when we read that said .ankers are having their million pound bonuses topped up with taxpayers money and that their solid gold pensions are not going to be touched - is that fair? Private sector workers are being pitted against public sector workers by this Tory government in a classic "divide and conquer" manoeuvre. Public sector workers today, unemployed and disabled yesterday, who is this government going to demonise tomorrow?