The High Court ruled today, Wednesday 31 July, that Mark Serwotka is the General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the main civil service union with over 280,000 members.

The court ruled that the outgoing General Secretary, Barry Reamsbottom, had no legal right to remain in office after his five-year term ended on 31 May 2002.

Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary, said:

"I am extremely pleased that the High Court has accepted that the members elected me as the general Secretary of PCS.

"I was elected General Secretary on a programme of defending PCS members jobs, re-establishing national civil service pay and conditions and opposing privatisation.

"PCS will now continue working for high quality public services and improving the service that the union provides to members and representatives at the workplace."

Summary of High Court Judgement:

·Mr Reamsbottom ceased to be general secretary on 31st May 2002.
·Mr Serwotka was the valid elected general secretary from 1st June 2002.
·The purported NEC of 23rd May 2002 was not a valid meeting and therefore its decisions have no effect.
·The compromise agreement signed by Mr Reamsbottom and the PCS was always valid.
·Leave to appeal under derivative action was rejected.