hiberal AT THE 1984 Annual Conference of the Civil and Public Services Association delegates voted (though not overwhelmingly) for a merger with the Society of Civil and Public representing managerial and executive grades. This move initiated by the right wing organised around CPSA General Secretary Alastair Graham and backed by Militant supporters spells naught but danger for rank and file CPSA members.
Taken at face value the proposition for a merger could be seen as advantageous to a union which has been losing thousands of members since the arrival of Thatcher's 'New Order', cuts jobs and services it has entaled In • addinon CPSA is also to lose some 40 0 members it's Post Telecommunications section which is aboul lo ballot it's members on joining the POEU.
CPSA However this particular amalgamation would not be reresesented by the aPses teres the who would face the prospect of attending union meetings with their supervisors and managers present - rather a daunting prospect in the civil service!
Although ian he argued that there are large number of good activists in the SCPS, it must be remembered that when comes LN Ci crunch most SCPS members put Servants (SCPS), the union problems of the 1 ne merger TOr …Tne oronna. member stem from the way the ser vce structured and controlled. wnal kina or relanonship can be expected from union rep wno ls also youl supervisor responsible for your annual ICOUL It 19 likely that the CPSA's rank file militancy will be neutered executive grades dominate the new unions' structures.