I’m privileged to have been a PCS Rep for many years and have carried out roles at all levels of the union.  I see myself first and foremost as a representative of members’ views – here to listen to what members have to say, and then use those views to lead and shape PCS policy.

Whilst I am widely known for my H&S campaigning and knowledge, I have a wealth of experience representing members individually and collectively, both with my employer HSE, and at Cabinet Office level as an NEC member of national negotiating teams.

I’ve supported hundreds of members during my time as National Branch Chair for the HSE & ONR National Branch when dealing with individual casework.  I have also been the lead lay negotiator with our employer for 20 years, and like to think I have developed a reputation as someone to be trusted by members, who often seek me out personally for help.

In negotiation I have covered all area’s including pay; T&C’s; learning & development; equality in the workplace and health & safety.  I recently helped rewrite employer guidance on the intranet to make information more accessible and easily understandable.  In 2023 I led a successful campaign to get free sanitary products made available in all HSE offices.

Over the last 12 months I have personally revamped our national branch recruitment plan. I’ve personally written to every non-member in HSE asking them to join PCS, and put a new system in place for contacting new employees in their first month.  I am now training up new reps to help them take on organising work and develop their skills and capability for the future.

I’m seeking re-election because I am passionate about fairness and defending members interests.

OUR PRIORITIES:

• During the next 12 months PCS must keep up the pressure on Government to stop the levelling down of members standard of living, as prices keep on going up.

• We also must address differing pay levels across the area’s in which we organise – whether that be public or private sector employers. In the building where I work, Redgrave Court, Bootle, rates of pay vary widely:

AOs in ONR earn from at the minimum £22939 to £25591 at the pay scale maximum;

In DWP it’s from £22845 to 24273;

In HSE it’s from £22845 to £23500;

In Home Office it’s one rate of £24800;

In Valuations Office Agency it’s also one rate £24330.

…that’s hundreds of pounds different, yet all of these roles are graded using the same job evaluation system, and that’s one example of why there must be a return to national bargaining.  And we must tackle the shocking levels of low pay thousands of our members face as wages struggle to keep up with the national living wage.

• Jobs must be defended as we know this Government is convinced the Civil Service grew as a result of their Brexit mess, and that affects public and private sector workers.  Cuts to the services PCS members deliver need to be evidence based and not arbitrary.

• Membership continues to grow, but we must keep on building the strength of our union as this ultimately increases our leverage in negotiation.  We need to engage more with members digitally and review our processes to ensure everyone can play an active part in PCS.

To deliver on these aims it is vital that we have a strong united leadership.  The Democracy Alliance has raised the profile of our union to an all-time high and engaged members in all branches, regions and home nations.

I ask for your continued support of the Democracy Alliance candidates.  We are committed to building a progressive union that wins for members by working together around our shared values – not as part of an alliance of convenience designed only to win an election.