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 elected to the NEC, 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 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 was first elected to the NEC in 2012 and had the privilege of serving the members on this committee until last year. In that time, I served on the Policy and Resources Committee, the Finance Committee (Chair and Vice Chair), Bargaining Committee and the Devolved Nations Committee.

I am seeking election to the NEC to ensure that Left Unity, along with the PCS Democrats, regain control from the coalition of chaos which has seen complete inertia in the National Campaign as our opponents are hell bent on blaming Left Unity rather than the government. The strategy, which saw everyone in the union pay a monthly sum to the levy and saw selected targeted action in areas where we had leverage with the employer, resulted in concessions which members welcomed. These included a £1,500 cost of living payment and the Treasury Remit more than doubled. However, the complete inaction on the National Campaign and the reluctance of the majority on the NEC to consult our members means that it is absolutely vital that Left Unity are elected to ensure that our members have the confidence, once again, in their elected leadership and will support a strategy that will deliver for them.

It is not acceptable that the strike levy is still being deducted from members bank accounts. The union entered into a contract with members when we introduced the levy. The members were promised that they only pay into the levy whilst there was strike action being taken on the national campaign. Despite the best efforts of the General Secretary and Democracy Alliance comrades on the NEC, it angers me that the majority grouping on the NEC have reneged on this promise at a time when members need that money. The levy should be paused immediately. It is also of great importance that we consult with our members in any campaign that we embark on.

There are many challenges facing our union and we need the right leadership to meet them head on. 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.   

I will bring the experience of 14 years on the NEC and a determination to represent our members at all times as I have done in my 40 years as representative. If elected to the NEC, I will do what I have always done, put members first and foremost at all times and not what a political party tells me to do.

I would urge everyone to read the statements of every Democracy Alliance candidate and vote for them to provide a strong, experienced and determined NEC leadership who will always put members first and who have a track record of delivering.