For DWP Vice President

I am seeking re-election to the post of Group Vice-President in the DWP Group. I have been a member of PCS and its predecessor union, CPSA, since 1984 when I joined the civil service. I am employed by the Department for Work and Pensions at the Glasgow Working Age Service Centre. I have been a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) since 2012 and have been a member of the DWP Group Executive Committee (GEC) since 2009. In addition to my Group Vice-President responsibilities, I am currently the Departmental Trade Union Side Chairperson and a representative in the DWP Glasgow Branch.

I am proud of the role that the DWP Group have played in the National Campaign with strongly supported targeted action so far in Liverpool, Doncaster, Bolton, and Stockport. This action has resulted in major disruption to the DWP in their service delivery. Furthermore, the mass day of action on 1 February 2023 was a resounding success with up to 100,000 PCS members across the union withdrawing their labour. Members in the DWP are rightly angry that around 24,000 staff in the AA and AO grades will go on to the National Living Wage on 1 April 2023. Our members have had enough of receiving poverty pay with 40,000 using foodbanks and 47,000 in receipt of Universal Credit, the very benefit many of them administer daily. This scandalous situation is unacceptable and must be addressed by the government immediately.

The very fact that PCS managed to get over the 50% threshold in the government’s anti-trade union legislation and the success of 1 February and targeted action, demonstrates to me that members support the National Campaign strategy and appreciate that it is designed to cause the minimum financial sacrifice for those who are already experiencing hardship. It is of the greatest importance that PCS show strong and compassionate leadership for our members and not place them in harm’s way. This is in complete contrast to the opponents of Left Unity in this election who want the National Campaign strategy to go on a different direction with a “substantial” increase in unpaid strike action. The Left Unity leadership in the DWP Group and on the National Executive Committee will always put our members first and listen to their views, not put them in a position of financial hardship. I am proud that Left Unity are leading the National Campaign and will continue to do so responsibly if we are re-elected.

If elected, the Left Unity leadership will continue to campaign on the following:

• A cost-of-living rise of 10%
• A living wage of £15 per hour
• An immediate cut in pension contributions of 2% backdated to 2019
• A job security agreement
• A guarantee of no detrimental changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, redundancy terms
• Adequate staffing levels
• Opposing all office closures
• Defending the Welfare State
• Opposing all privatisation
• Promoting equality and opposing discrimination

Please vote for me and the strong, determined, and experienced Left Unity candidates in the forthcoming DWP Group election under the outstanding leadership of the current Group President, Martin Cavanagh.