I am asking for your support in for my re-election onto the Group Executive Committee. I have been successfully elected as a GEC ordinary member for the last two years where I have been a group Liaison Officer for the North East of England and currently the West Midlands. However, this year I have also been acting, in the main, as Group Assistant Secretary since June 2023 working in Operations and Health and Safety. I have been a member of CPSA and now PCS since I joined the DHSS, BA and now DWP in 1992 and have been a rep for the majority of my civil service life.

My background sits heavily within health and safety where I continue to work as Regional H&S Officer within the North East of England. The committee’s I joint chair (district and regional) have become more productive in working together in the best interests of the staff. I have built up a respected working relationship with our district management lead for Northumberland Tyne and Wear and North East of England Regional management to progress site issues in a timely manner and act as the SPOC for both.

My activity in H&S has given me the depth of understanding to work with our Group H&S Officer and the daily communications with the DWP H&S Team on changes that affect all our members. Working with the H&S Advisory committee members ensures we are well placed to challenge the employer on matters of none consultation.

I became the City of Sunderland’s branch Chair in 2019 which is a proactive effective branch supporting members in a wide range of DWP businesses and has been fortunate to have GEC members for a number of years.  I would very much like to see that continue with a strong Left Unity branch executive committee representation.

If elected again this year, I will continue to work in the best interest of the union membership alongside a strong Left Unity lead committee which in the last year of campaigning has delivered unprecedented results for our membership.

Please use your vote to not only support my election into Group Assistant Secretary, but also that of my Left Unity comrade’s standing for election too.

Jocelyn McFarlane