Public and Commercial Services Union

Introduction

In line with PCS National Policy, the Culture, Media and Sports Occupational Association (CMSOA) Executive Committee are seeking to carry forward the organising agenda in 2011-12. This strategy has been reviewed and revised by the elected CMSOA Executive Committee organiser with reference to the National Organising Strategy 2011, and the achievements and outcomes of the current CMSOA Organising Strategy, based upon targets and objectives set in May 2010.

Whilst we have done a good job holding the number of members in the sector, in an extremely challenging environment, we now face an even bigger challenge. The political consensus has dictated that the public sector is bearing the brunt of the pain as the government seek to use the excuse of balancing the books to launch an ideologically-driven assault on public services. Our union is at the forefront of the counter-attack against that assault and we must organise effectively if we are to ensure that that counter-attack is effective.

In these circumstances it is more important than ever that we value the trained, motivated and supported activists who organise their workplace issues, that we support them and seek to increase their numbers. In this way we will seek to build a strong and healthy union that grows in new and existing areas gives us the ability to be more effective, influential and successful.

We must, however, learn lessons from our reviews of previous strategies. We have found that, in the past, over-ambitious plans have led to a dilution of resources. In the current situation, with resources at a premium and with the focus clearly upon the national campaign, it is incumbent on us to prioritise effectively. We will, then, focus on key areas of the strategy and key areas of the sector in which that strategy can be most effectively delivered.

Primary objectives and priorities

The primary objectives of our strategy will focus on four of (the eight) national objectives:

• A measurable increase in activity by members and reps;
• A measurable increase in membership density;
• A measurable increase in union activity by under-represented groups;
• An improvement in the speed and accuracy of updating activist data on Commix.

We will attempt to deliver on these objectives across the sector but will prioritise particularly those areas which we identify as having the potential to deliver the biggest impact. We will deliver on the other four national objectives, where possible, as they arise as part of our overall plan.

General Purposes Committee (GPC)

The elected CMSOA Executive Committee organiser will continue to work with the full-time Group Secretary, supported as appropriate by PCS negotiators, in coordinating the development and implementation of the CMSOA Organising Strategy at all levels, with a programme of work directed at those objective laid out above, primarily in the context of the national campaign. To further facilitate this work it is proposed that a General Purposes Committee (GPC) is set up: to be made up of senior elected officers - President, Vice President, Organiser and Treasurer plus FTO's. The key role of the GPC would be to have overview of the work of the AEC and to provide direction and recommendations to the AEC on our key priorities. The GPC would also have oversight of planning and resources and respond as necessary.

Organising action plan

The GPC will meet as soon as possible after ADC in order to formulate an organising action plan. This plan will draw on this strategy and the national strategy to develop in detail the activity required to deliver the objectives. The plan will be submitted for approval to the first AEC after conference and, once approved, will be copied to the national organising department (by August 2011). The plan will form the basis of reviews with that department throughout the year, as outlined in the national organising strategy.

Review of CMSOA organising Strategy 2011

The elected CMSOA Executive Committee organiser will submit a report to CMSOA conference 2012 on progress against this strategy. The CMSOA executive committee will review achievements and outcomes of the strategy, based upon targets and objectives set in May 2011. Findings of the review to feed into the strategy for 2011/12, to be developed by the elected CMSOA Executive Committee organiser.

Recommendations

That CMSOA conference approves the above strategy, including:

• The focus on the primary objectives;
• The prioritisation of high impact areas;
• The setting up of the GPC;
• The development of a detailed action plan.