PCS fully support the action taken on Saturday by the People’s Assembly – we need to keep highlighting the impact on people of this government’s pernicious policies.

On Thursday 17th March DWP announced their intention to close 41 offices, following a previous decision in 2017 that declared many of these workplaces “transitional” and at risk of closure.

Despite this threat hanging over our members for the best part of 5 years, the announcements last Thursday still came as a huge shock to those on the receiving end of this devastating news and left a number of long standing PCS members in tears.

There is simply no justification for these closures, which are based on an out of date and failed strategy of the DWP Executive Team.

On Sunday I was invited as National Officer of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) to speak at a rally in support of Child Q at Hackney Town Hall. The rally organised by Jacqueline Courtenay, a local resident and it was the first time she had organised such an event.

Members today will have received the news that whilst on a 45.2% turnout, we didn’t beat the threshold, we did deliver a massive Yes vote for our demands on pay and pensions, with 97.3% in support of our national pay claim, and 80.7% in favour of industrial action.