have been an active rep within PCS for 20 years and a socialist for longer than I can remember.  

During my time as a rep, I have held numerous positions at branch, region, group levels. My first role was as a health and safety rep, a role which I am still very involved in being the chair of the East Midlands Regional H&S committee. Through this I have fostered good working relationships with PCS branches from other departments to ensure that H&S concerns from all members are addressed. 

Through my roles on the GEC, chair of the Group Womens Advisory Committee, vice chair of the Disabled Members Advisory Committee, the National Disabled Members Forum and the National Women’s forum I have been heavily involved with equalities which are a real passion of mine. I have been lucky enough to help organize and run equality events for LGBT history month, Women’s history month, Black History month, Young Workers week and Disability History month throughout all regions. I regularly support reps from my branch and nationally with cases involving equality aspects. 

One of my proudest achievements as a rep was my involvement with the introduction of free sanitary products in the toilets of the HMRC estates. PCS had been campaigning on this issue for a long time and the department had stated that their final position was not to provide free sanitary products. They removed the topic from agendas saying it was no longer up for discussion. As the then chair of the Group Women’s Advisory Committee I insisted that this topic was put back on the agenda. Through this perseverance and fighting for something that was important to our members we got an agreement from the department to provide free sanitary products within 2 months of me insisting it was put back on the agenda. 

I am proud to be a member of PCS an active fighting union.