Michael Smith for DWP GEC 2026

Current/previous roles:

  • Branch Assistant Secretary 2025 – present
  • Branch Young Members Officer 2023 – 2026
  • DWP Scotland Regional Committee Campaigns Officer 2025 – present
  • DWP Scotland Regional Committee Young Members Officer 2024 – 2025
  • Young Members Advisory Committee member 2023 – present
  • National Young Members Network Deputy Convenor for Scotland 2024 – 2025
  • Clydebank Trade Union Council member 2024 – present

Duties from roles:

  • Representing Members in Personal Cases
  • Organising
  • Campaigning
  • Dealing with Collective Issues
  • Chairing Meetings
  • Holding Seminar Sessions
  • Mentoring New Reps
  • Recruiting New Reps and Advocates
  • Recruiting New PCS Members
  • Communicating Updates/Briefings/Events to Members

I am asking you to elect me to the DWP GEC 2026.

The past few years I have took advantage of all the opportunities available for being a Young Member activist within PCS and built up strong and effective organising and campaigning skills that I would like to bring to the DWP GEC.

My branch being one of the largest in PCS has gave me the opportunity to be able to put these skills into action.

I have been lucky enough to have experienced reps who have supported and mentored me which include 4 existing GEC members.

What’s importing to me is meeting your needs which is better pay, better working conditions, supporting smaller branches, and a stop to discriminative barriers being put in place to stop carers and disabled members getting reasonable adjustments.

Voting for the Left Unity slate will ensure we will win these fights. Left Unity will ensure we keep building back up the membership after the Levy carryon, building back up the number will give us a stronger voice at the bargaining table when it comes to pay.

Although we never met the turn out from the most recent ballot and I am disappointed, I am proud of how many votes we did get with the barriers put in place such as the DWP’s legal challenge and issues with the Royal Mail.

I am proud to be a Left Unity member and fully support the leadership of Angela Grant at group level and Martin Cavanagh at the national level.

Members need strong leadership in DWP.

Please vote for the Left Unity candidates below.

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, Robertson-Simmons, Smith, Thomas, Westgarth, Wilson