I am seeking re-election to the post of PCS DWP Group Vice President. I have been a member of PCS and its predecessor union, CPSA, since 1984 when I joined the civil service in the DHSS. I am employed by the Department for Work and Pensions at the Glasgow Working Age Service Centre. Over the past 40 years I have held positions at every level of the union – Acting National Vice President, National Executive Committee (NEC), Group Vice President, Group Assistant Secretary, Group Executive Committee (GEC), Scotland Committee Chair, DWP Scotland Regional Chair, Branch Secretary, Branch Treasurer, Site Representative and Departmental Trade Union Side Chair. If re-elected to the position of Group Vice President, I will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience of representing members in negotiations with the employer and defending members at a local and national level.

I was first elected to the GEC in 2009, and I am currently DWP Group Vice President with responsibility for Universal Credit, Working Age/Move to UC, Accessibility, Disability and Disputes, Strategic Resourcing, Social Security Policy, Devolved Social Security, as well as being a member of the Pay Team and the Campaigns Committee. 

I am proud to a part of a Left Unity leadership in the DWP GEC under the Group President, Angela Grant, who always listen to our members and put their interests first, unlike our opponents in this election who dance to the tune of their respective political parties. You only have to look at how the ‘Left Majority’ handled the National Campaign levy. Taking money off low paid members without taking any industrial action was a gross dereliction of duty with no thought given to how this would affect members. Thankfully, the levy has now been paused after many members, Branches and Groups, asserted pressure on the ‘Left Majority’ on the NEC.

Thanks to the Left Unity leadership of the GEC, we managed to secure an above inflation DWP pay award for 2024/25. Only after DWP intended to prioritise the senior grades. This was only achieved as a result of Group negotiators being present at the pay meetings and pushing back against the intention of DWP to reward senior grades. If the ‘Left Majority’ on the NEC majority had their way, we would not have been in the room to fight for our low paid members as they opposed PCS taking part in delegated pay negotiations. They eventually relented after strong pressure from members and reps.

The election of the Labour Government last July has seen the rhetoric of the right-wing when it comes to describing benefit claimants. The Secretary of State has described some long-term benefit claimants as “taking the Mickey”. Language has consequences and this rhetoric puts further pressure on our members, whether in Jobcentres or the phones in Service Centres. If elected I will, along with my Left Unity comrades, continue to fight and campaign for a Social Security system that treats benefit claimants with Dignity, Respect and Fairness. The Labour Government are targeting disabled claimants as they attempt to save £3bn from the welfare bill. Furthermore, ‘Get Britain Working’ will see further pressure on our members working in Jobcentres and Service Centres. PCS need to be at the forefront of fighting back to defend our members and the benefit claimants they we serve on a daily basis.   

If elected, the Left Unity leadership will continue to campaign, in addition to pay, pensions and jobs, on the following:

• Adequate staffing levels
• Opposing all office closures
• Defending the Welfare State
• Opposing all privatisation
• Promoting equality and opposing discrimination
• Against detrimental changes to the Hybrid Working Policy
• Hybrid Working for Front of House staff

Please vote for me and the strong, determined, and experienced Left Unity candidates in the forthcoming DWP Group election.