I’ve been an active member of PCS and its predecessor union for many years; and rep for more than 15 years. I’m currently the Branch Secretary for DWP Avon Branch; I’m also the Lead Equality Rep for my Branch and the Southwest Region. I am the Southwest Region Vice Chair and rep to National Black Members Committee.

As part of Left Unity, I am proud of our record of standing up for members and the successes the Left Unity led DWP GEC, and national union have helped to achieve locally and nationally.  In DWP Left Unity we have been the ones, to continue leading the campaign which has kept members safe, challenging the employer’s constant attacked on reasonable adjustments and our members rights. Left Unity has a proven record on equality and is always at forefront in the fight against racism and rising Islamophobia. This past year the Left Unity led DWP GEC have needed to defended members who have protested about the atrocities in Palestine, defending members who fear losing their jobs, and or being giving a warning. Our Left Unity led GEC has been in the forefront defending and fighting for our job centre members to work hybrid and that fight continues.

I am proud to be in Left Unity under whose leadership the GEC and national union has been relentless in fighting for better terms and conditions as well as working with the national union on fair pay and protecting our pensions. The recent result to pause the levy demonstrated the strength and determination of our Left Unity leadership and activists put our members front and centre to all what we do. Locally it was the efforts of a core of Left Unity activists that helped the DWP Avon Branch get that mandate to act on pay, pensions, and conditions.

We have built on previous years activity locally and have increase all members’ involvement and activism. I have continued to mentor and support new reps and advocates that have come forward and we are now look to build the branch by increasing our density across all our sites. With my encouragement and leadership, we have seen more activity from members in DWP Avon. One highlight was the number of members who took to the streets to defend our communities from the Far-Right last year, this was replicated all over the country, all led by our Left Unity leadership and activists.

It has been Left Unity leadership however which set the agenda at discussions with management, both locally and nationally. We have new government, and we were hoping things would improve but we are still in cost-of-living crisis where we have seen our members resorting to food bank and claiming Universal Credit. We also speak to members who are making those real-life decisions of heating or eating, for them and their families. In the pay award our members received over 4% and a small non consolidate payment this was fought for by Left Unity led DWP GEC. This has meant money in our members and non-members pockets.