Following a year when our union seemed to go backwards under the self-styled ‘Coalition for Change’, we have seen a significant improvement in our fortunes following the election of a substantial Democracy Alliance majority.

Membership levels are increasing month on month, to over 190,000. The financial position of the union is improving, because of that significant increase in subscription income. We are now on a firm financial footing, able to plan future campaigns with confidence.
And the promise of refunding levy contributions to members has been delivered, with almost £300000 returned to nearly 13,000 members.
We are now engaged in meaningful talks with the Cabinet Office on a long term jobs, pay and reward strategy, seeking an agreement on job security that gives members a no compulsory redundancy guarantee and greater access to hybrid working arrangements; and a pay deal that restores all members living standards to a decent level and eliminates the spectre of low pay.
All this has been achieved by developing coherent and deliverable strategies to achieve real progress for members, rather than politically motivated points of difference that can be used to create division between members and our employers.
Members face serious challenges from the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, ever increasing workloads, job cuts and site closures. They need a credible campaigning union, able to deliver results through negotiation backed by achievable industrial action, not political posturing. A union led by the Democracy Alliance with strategies that win for members.
The Coalition for Change would take us back again to that year of chaos, with a “fighting leadership” long on rhetoric and slogans but with no idea how to deliver results. Don’t fall for it again!
As an experienced national negotiator and current NEC member I believe that I can add an important perspective to the work of the national executive committee and the creation of that winning campaign strategy.
I am currently the president of the defence sector group and joint chair of the MOD trade union side, having been a TU activist all my working life.
I am a lifelong socialist and member of left unity, with wider experience from being a local councillor and chair of a secondary school governing body.
Please use your vote for the NEC this year wisely!