For PCS NEC

I am seeking re-election to the National Executive Committee (NEC). 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 NEC since 2012 and have been a member of the DWP Group Executive Committee (GEC) since 2009. I am currently a Group Vice-President in the DWP Group, the Departmental Trade Union Side Chairperson, and a representative in the DWP Glasgow Branch.

I am proud of the role that the Democracy Alliance led NEC have had in taking forward the National Campaign strategy agreed at the Annual Delegate Conference last year. The outstanding targeted action and the resounding success of the 1 February 2023, with up to 100,000 PCS members across the union withdrawing their labour, demonstrated that the strategy is having a major impact with strong support from the members. Members in my own Group, 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. In the HMRC, around 19,000 are in the same position. Our members have had enough of receiving poverty pay with 40,000 using foodbanks and 47,000 in receipt of Universal Credit in the DWP, 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 the Democracy Alliance in this election who want the National Campaign strategy to go on a different direction with a “substantial” increase in unpaid strike action. The Democracy Alliance leadership on the NEC will always put our members first and listen to their views, not put them in a position of financial hardship. I am proud that Democracy Alliance are leading the National Campaign and will continue to do so responsibly if we are re-elected.

If elected, the Democracy Alliance 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 Democracy Alliance candidates in the forthcoming NEC election under the leadership of General Secretary, Mark Serwotka and President, Fran Heathcote.