I was honoured to be elected to the DWP Group Executive Committee (GEC) in 2024 and this year I am asking for your support for my re-election 

On the GEC I am currently a Group Liaison Officer for the SouthEast Region in Group Level, a member of the Personnel Committee, and part of the Trade Union Sides who meet with leadership teams for the Customer Experience, Retirement Services, Working Age /Move to UC and the new Accessibility, Disability and Disputes directorates. I also step in as a Trade Union Side Secretary occassionally arranging meetings, notetaking and directing urgent correspondence between GEC, Branches, and DWP Senior Leadership.

I am the elected Organiser for my branch, Secretary for DWP Northeast Regional Committee, and a member of the PCS Northern Regional committee. Over the past year in my branch I have overseen the merger of the old Durham and Tees Valley branches, set up a new branch email account and site contact lists, and continue to support and assist members in personal cases. Locally I called out unfair practices in allocating Festive Leave preferences which would not have stood up to grievance resulting in a fairer selection for staff potentially impacted.

I have 10 years experience as a TU rep starting with CWU in the hostile environment of an employer that did not recognise Unions. Undaunted, I actively recruited and supported members in formal hearings. When Union recognition was finally won, I was elected Chair of my site committee at EE Darlington.

I joined PCS when I started at DWP in 2021 becoming a Branch rep the following year. I immediately organised around the National Pay Campaign ballot ensuring my branch beat the 50% threshold.

My Left Unity comrades and I are not influenced by the whims of any political party. We are driven by what affects our members most. It’s in our DNA. I surveyed members of my branch for their feelings on the Levy and 91% wanted a pause. It is no longer fit for purpose and the anger in my branch and others helped force a climbdown by enough of the current NEC “left majority” to finally get a pause.

Nevertheless a cohort on the current NEC calling themselves the Broad Left Network, guided by political masters whose stated intent is to bring PCS down, continue to support this threat to PCS’s very existence. Well not on Left Unity’s watch and voting to keep a Left Unity led GEC on the largest group in PCS will go a long way to ensure PCS thrives and keeps winning for members.

I see first hand the hard work this Left Unity majority on the GEC does for our members and am proud to be a part of it. If re-elected, I will continue playing my part ensuring your GEC keeps your concerns front and centre with DWP management and supports your branches and reps in supporting you with workplace issues.

I am a Socialist and Left Unity member. Only a Left Unity led team has the proven talent, experience, and values to build and win principled campaigns on pay, conditions, pensions and jobs.

Please vote for me and the other Left Unity candidates.