I am asking for your support to be re-elected as Vice-President of the DWP Group. I stand based on my record and commitment over three decades in various roles at every level of our union. It has been an honour to serve you on the DWP GEC for the last 23 years as both Vice-President and formerly President, and I ask you to give me the opportunity to continue working on your behalf. 

I believe in a strong, supportive, and fighting union that puts our members interests first, not one riddled with the division and negativity espoused by our opponents in these elections.

As a socialist, I have spent years fighting for fair pay, job security, and better conditions within DWP and across the wider civil service, and have been privileged to be part of a group leadership that has:

• Campaigned against poverty pay in DWP, delivering the group’s largest ever turnout in last Autumn’s consultative ballot
• Fought against office closures
• Presided over fewer attendance and disciplinary warnings
• Campaigned for a fairer, and more accessible Social Security system including presenting evidence to the Parliamentary Select Committee
• Helped save over 50 jobs threatened by changes to the Skilled Worker Visa Scheme

If re-elected my Left Unity comrades and I, will repay the trust you have placed in us by:

• Fighting for decent pay for all members with above inflation increases and an end to poverty pay in DWP
• Campaigning against government cuts – defending our jobs and the services we provide
• Ensuring every member has a voice creating a stronger, more inclusive union for all
• Working tirelessly to build our workplace organisation and grow our membership, thereby increasing our leverage with the employer
• Fighting for greater flexibility and access to hybrid working for all members

PCS is our union, and its strength comes from us standing together. I’m totally committed to making sure we campaign for and win the pay, respect, dignity, job security, and conditions we all deserve.

If you want a PCS that listens, supports, and fights for you, one that places members front and centre of our campaigns then I urge you to vote for all the below Left Unity candidates for the strong and united leadership you deserve in DWP.

President – Grant

Vice Presidents – Cavanagh, McDonough, Pope, Shafiq

Assistant Secretaries – Burke, Corcoran, Cahill, McFarlane, McGachey, Morton, Perry

Organiser – Byers

Treasurer – Edwards

Editor – Kennedy

GEC – Ahmed, Ferraro, Getton, Jackson, Lothian, McCafferty, Mack, Meller, Mulcahy, Pealing, Revell, Sherriff, Simmons-Robertson, Smith, Thomas, Westgarth, Wilson