My name is Alistair Maxwell and I have been a rep in the former DNS Glasgow (then SBS Glasgow and now Atos IT Services Glasgow) branch for 22 years. I am also currently the Branch Chair of the branch and Atos Group President, taking over from Kenny McKay on his retirement. I am PSMA Vice-President and Treasurer and am an accredited Health and Safety rep as well as a ULR.

I have a proven track record of delivering for members having dealt with many personal cases and negotiated on terms and conditions as well as being part of our Atos Group pay team. As part of our union’s Commercial Sector I am acutely aware of the challenges our members face when we are faced with private sector employers who are only interested in the bottom line and not our members’ interests. We have had to deal with 2 previous TUPE transfers, NS&I to Siemens to Atos, and most of our members are now going through another TUPE thanks to the previous Government’s dogma on outsourcing and contracts. 

The NS&I contract was split into 4 different parts under the Rainbow Programme and it means our members who previously worked together could be working for different employers despite all doing the same jobs as previously. It is yet to be seen whether this is a good idea or not but it increases the difficulties of organising in a hostile environment.

However, I have always loved a challenge and look forward to some forthright discussions with my current employer until April 2025 (when I expect to transfer to Sopra Steria) and with my new employer going forward. We need to ensure the structures are fit for our purposes and that our members continue to receive the level of representation and advice they received previously.

I want our NEC to go back to properly supporting members and not wasting vaulable timing fighting each other. We know who we should be fighting with: the Government and employers. We should be campaigning for a return of all Government contracts, where this benefits our members, to be taken back in-house and not running the Government for private profit.