PCS members demonstrating against privatisation of Land Registry

PCS members demonstrating against privatisation of Land Registry   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

PCS campaign against Land Registry privatisation

Dave Lunn, PCS Land Registry group vice president (personal capacity)

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union campaign against Land Registry privatisation has stepped up a gear. This follows a unanimous endorsement of our strategy and campaign by the entire PCS conference.

Conference pledged further practical and financial support up to and including the use of industrial action to defeat the government’s ill-conceived plans.

This has not only given our members a massive boost, but also sends a clear message to management and the government that we will do whatever it takes to defeat privatisation once and for all.

Public opinion is also clearly against what is planned and nearly 300,000 people have signed a 38 Degrees petition against Land Registry privatisation – the largest response it has ever had to a petition of this type.

The petition (so far) was handed into the Department for Business, Industry and Skills (BIS) on 26 May, the day that the public consultation ended.

This event was attended by a large crowd including PCS members, conveyancers, other pressure groups and MPs. However, neither Sajid Javid (minister for BIS) nor any other BIS official was prepared to collect the petition in person.

We have also been campaigning politically, getting our members involved in lobbying their MPs; and PCS reps have been meeting with MPs to set out the reasons for opposition.

Interestingly, around a third of MPs who have met with us have been Tories who are uneasy with what is being proposed. Even the right-wing press has come out solidly in opposition, describing it as “a privatisation too far”.

With this level of opposition it is hard to see how Chancellor Osborne can proceed with his plan, as he appears to be the only person who thinks that it is a good idea. Clearly, if he were to be removed from office following the EU referendum, the likelihood of defeating privatisation would be increased.

Either way, PCS is organised, determined and ready to do whatever it takes to defend our members jobs, offices, and terms and conditions, and the vital public service we provide.