Introduction: I owe my job to this PCS Union after I was dismissed as an Autistic employee but have worked hard to represent everybody in this Trade Union. I work in the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) that looks after the money of mentally incapacitated clients, within the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Our branch is called the MoJ Associated Offices Branch as we represent Arms Length Bodies in this government department. I pay £20 per month to the PCS Fighting Fund. I encourage every member to pay into this fund but I am opposed to the compulsory Strike Levy of £3 of which many members cannot afford during the Cost of Living Crisis and during a time of no industrial action. I believe that it is important to have a voice on the NEC for the Justice Sector but, also, for the PCS Disabled Members of which I am one, as well as representing every Civil Servant and employee of the Private Sector. In the main photograph, I am standing near the statue of Jim Larkin during the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign march in Dublin of October 2024. As you all know, this great Trade Unionist from Liverpool led the Belfast Lockout of 1907 and the Dublin Lockout of 1913. In the other photograph, I am standing between John McDonnell, MP, and Ellen Clifford outside the Royal Cuts of Justice of which Ellen won her case against benefit sanctions for disabled claimants.

Justice Sector: I am Branch Organiser of the MoJ Associated Offices Branch of which I ensured a 93% transfer from the Check Off to Direct Debit in a short space of time when the government engaged in union busting in 2015. Fran Heathcote, now, the General Secretary of PCS, led this fight against union busting in the largest government department, DWP.

In early 2023, I organised 5 picket lines in 3 days of national action in our branch and mentored many new PCS Union Representatives in their first dispute. These employer groups were the Youth Justice Board, Parole Board, Prison Probation Ombudsman, Wales Office and the Northern Ireland Office that broke the 50% threshold in the Statutory Ballot. They are amongst the lowest paid government bodies and I was proud to stand on their picket lines in Whitehall, Petty France, 1 Horse Guards Road and Canary Wharf in London. Previously, I saved hundreds of jobs in the OPG and the Youth Justice Board, by parliamentary lobbying. I organised the only targeted action of the national dispute in MoJ for 3 days of which was the Northern Ireland Office in Belfast. In the following statutory ballot, we broke the 50% threshold in 8 employer groups: Office of the Public Guardian, Criminal Cases Review Commission, Judicial Appointments Commission, Youth Justice Board, Parole Board, Wales Office, Northern Ireland Office and Prison Probation Ombudsman. Through this branch with the support of the Legal Aid Agency and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, we pressurised the MoJ to pay the £1500 cost of living compensation payment to all staff, and broke the pay freeze of the last 10 years from the 2% cap to over 5%. As a result, we have had a larger branch of Representatives and Advocates with regular BEC meetings. Industrial action makes all the difference.

In 2021, I prevented compulsory relocations from Medway Court to another region by lobbying the local Trades Union Council and their Labour councillors. In 2022, this campaigning preserved the local justice of Medway. We need to apply these successful tactics against other offices that are threatened with closure. I am ensuring more representation for our prison staff on the MoJ Group Executive Committee. This representation is important as our PCS members were impacted by so many deaths in the prisons from COVID 19 and, still, face the threat of prison privatisation!

I am the Group Organiser for PCS in the Ministry of Justice and working hard in my second year to recruit new, younger and fresher activists in the MoJ especially the Legal Aid Agency. I am, radically, reforming the structure of organising and representation in the South East. I will continue to do the same in other regions. But we are witnessing a crumbling Justice Sector and it is important that you vote for us in the Democracy Alliance! Unfortunately, the current Strike Levy is a catalyst in encouraging PCS members to leave our union in the MoJ. It is pointless having such a levy when the whole of Ministry of Justice, unlike the MoJ Associated Offices Branch, were not able to achieve 50% turnout in the previous ballots, despite a simple majority for industrial action. It must, also, be emphasised that we are the lowest paid in the Civil Service. It is all the more reason that we should remove this levy in the MoJ if we are elected to the NEC.

Disabled Members: I am on the PCS National Disabled Members’ Forum and the TUC Disabled Workers’ Committee. Although I promoted Autism/Neurodiversity acceptance in the Civil Service, I represent all Disabled Members. I speak at a number of events for all PCS Neurodivergent members. I campaign with “Disabled People Against the Cuts” (DPAC) against the appalling Universal Credit and speak at their demonstrations on behalf of PCS. In May 2021, I organised the first historic meeting between the Disabled Workers’ Committees of the TUC and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Previously, I have been fighting to protect our members from the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, as more than two – thirds of people who died, have disabilities. Sadly, many PCS members are continuing to face higher levels of disability discrimination with reduced funding for Reasonable Adjustments. It is your vote that needs to make the difference.

In addition, I am the author of our motion calling for greater support and protection for unemployed disabled people to the TUC Conference, as the DWP continue to obey draconian orders from the government in imposing harsh benefit sanctions and spying on disabled claimants bank accounts.

The rest of the Civil Service: I continue to support the rest of the Civil Service during disputes. In 2023, I was the only picket with a Full Time Officer during Targeted Action outside the A1 Highways Agency in South Mimms but the PCS membership doubled in this workplace, as a result. Before Christmas 2022, in the thick of the rain, I supported the Border Staff picket line at Heathrow and stood with their local MP, John McDonnell.

Private Sector: I have supported picket lines for outsourced security guards on strike for better pay, terms and conditions. I represent members up to employment tribunal, preventing many dismissals and ensured re – instatement from dismissal in the Private Sector. Currently, we are pressurising the government over the living wage for every security guard and cleaner in all government bodies and branches.   Between 28^th October and 12^th November, I supported the PCS members of the security officers on Strike against G4S by attending their picket lines outside the Cabinet Office, South Colonnade Building in Canary Wharf and 10 Victoria Street.

Health and Safety: I re – invigorated the National Health and Safety Committee with the National Hazards Campaign. This re – invigoration was crucial before the COVID Pandemic started! We need further campaigning against bullying, discrimination, stress and deteriorating mental health.

Climate Change: I campaign against Climate Change. Jointly with the TSSA, I established the first Environmental Sustainability and Just Transition Network Committee within the TUC London, East and South East region. I, also, spoke at the COP26 demonstration in Cambridge on behalf of disabled people impacted by Climate Change, especially those who lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina. I ensured a stronger liaison between the PCS NEC and the Aviation Sector. It is important that PCS Representatives at airports have a stronger voice against Climate Change and campaign for more green jobs along with better pay, terms and conditions in the aviation industry.

Devolved nations: In terms of representing devolved nations, I have spent time helping PCS members in Northern Ireland. I was invited to speak at the PCS lobby meeting in the Stormont Assembly on behalf of the NEC during October 2022. From 2023 to 2024, I was the NEC Liaison Officer for the PCS Regional Committee of Ireland. I raised issues concerning PCS members in Northern Ireland at NEC meetings on a regular basis. I ensured that we had our first Left Unity member from Northern Ireland to be elected to the NEC. Owing to the successful devolved conferences and executive committees of Wales and Scotland, I have pushed for devolution within PCS in Northern Ireland.

International: Internationally, I have campaigned for the rights of the Disabled and Trade Unions in Ukraine as well as Palestine during these terrible times of war. Long before the devastating atrocities in Gaza, I have spoken at least six times at demonstrations as PCS Liaison Officer for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign! During my time on the PCS International Committee, I have built links with Trade Unions in many Muslim countries in North Africa and the Middle East including Palestine, Turkey, Iran and Kurdistan. I have denounced the appalling treatment of Muslim workers in the Uyghur region of China. Lastly, I liaise with Trade Unions in Ireland and Columbia. I ensured that PCS was the first British Trade Union apart from UNITE to support the campaign against the Water Charges in Ireland!

Equality: As second generation Irish, I campaign for the rights of Black, Asian, Migrant and Ethnic Workers within the TUC. As a result, I pushed for the first historic meeting with the MoJ on behalf of Traveller, Gypsy and Roma rights in the Civil Service in 2020. I, also, ensured that PCS was the first British Trade Union apart from UNITE to support the campaign against the Water Charges in Ireland! I am committed to fighting racism as I ensured that PCS is affiliated to the International Brigades Memorial Trust, and write for the Searchlight magazine in condemning the emerging Far Right in Ireland!

In the OPG of which we have a large percentage of Muslims amongst PCS members, I have promoted Islamopobia Month in November 2022. I am, also, the author of the model motion on campaigning against Islamophobia at national level within PCS. I was a PCS guest speaker at the Stand Up To Racism rally against Islamophobia outside the Tory Party HQ in November 2023.

Conclusion: I will continue to support Fran Heathcote as General Secretary and Martin Cavanagh as National President. A united leadership in working with them is vital, if we are to resist more attacks. I am a long serving Socialist in the Labour Party that has campaigned for greater public services for government employees, Council Housing, the NHS, Comprehensive and Further Education as well as local authorities. As a PCS Left Unity member, I ask you to vote for the Democracy Alliance.