PRESS STATEMENT FROM MARK SERWOTKA 31 JULY 2002

HIGH COURT CONFIRMS MARK SERWOTKA AS PCS GENERAL SECRETARY

The High Court today ruled that Mark Serwotka is the validly elected General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

The PCS is the sixth largest union in the TUC, with over 280,000 members in the Civil Service and linked bodies.

The High Court ruled that the outgoing General Secretary, Mr Barry Reamsbottom, had no legal right to remain in office after his 5-year term ended on 31 May 2002. Mr Reamsbottom had attempted to use his political majority on the union´s national executive to have Mark Serwotka's election declared invalid. Mr Reamsbottom had planned to remain as General Secretary himself until his retirement date in 2004, without ever facing an election by PCS members. The effect of this decision is that Mr Reamsbottom ceased to be General Secretary two months ago.

Mark Serwotka said:

" I am obviously extremely pleased that the High Court has accepted the validity of my election. PCS members elected me as General Secretary on a programme of:
national civil service pay and conditions for the national civil service
the defence of PCS members' jobs opposition to privatisation high quality public services with high quality employment conditions for staff improving the service that the Union provides to members and representatives at the workplace
implementing Conference policy extending democracy in the union
"I and the President, Janice Godrich, will now press ahead with implementing that programme. We call on the PCS national executive, for however long it is in office, to work with us to this effect. I now expect all PCS
officials to respect the members' decision to elect me as PCS General Secretary, and to work with me to implement Conference policy. If anyone cannot do so, then they should consider their future in PCS. Members would expect nothing less."

CONTACTS:

Mark Serwotka (Mob) 07771 932300 (Home) 01737 554545

Janice Godrich (Mob) 07771 932 215 (Home) 0141 887 2970

John Macreadie (Mob) 07788 118836 (Home) 0208 542 5880

Ken Jones (Mob) 07788 118136 (Home) 01865 556096