I have been a member of the PCS and predecessor Union; the CPSA, since 1992. I became a Health and Safety rep soon after starting work in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and joining the Union.

My first experience of direct action by my Union was shortly after I had started working for the CPS and joining the Union, when we took strike action in what was then the CPS national branch, to save our typists and reprographics staff from being privatised. I turned up for work as normal, but when I was told what was happening, I decided to join the picket line, rather than cross it, and shortly after became a Health & Safety rep. We were successful in keeping the staff in the Civil Service.

I am currently the branch chair for the CPS East Midlands and Eastern branch. I have been elected President since the CPS became a Group in 2006, where I have led on key bargaining issues, such as pay, HR management policies and health, safety and wellbeing issues.

I have been proud to serve on the NEC for 5 electoral terms from 2018 and have worked on the Health and Safety and Bargaining and Personnel Policy Committees, in developing key national PCS policies. I have been an active NEC Liaison Officer for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Group and currently the Liaison Officer for the Eastern Region.

The cost-of-living crisis caused by soaring inflation and the Tory’s mismanagement of the UK finances came soon off the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic caused by soaring inflation. Both have and are having a serious impact on the working and domestic lives of the members we represent. The resulting industrial action in recent months led by the Left Unity majority NEC has resulted in significant and unprecedented concessions from this Government. I want to remain an active part of a Left Unity led Union to protect and enhance the terms and conditions of the members we represent.

I have been Union activist for over 30 years and a member of the progressive Unity group within Left Unity. I am a socialist and have always applied basic socialist principles to my work in representing members at workplace, Branch and Group level.

If I am re-elected to the NEC, I will continue to work hard for our Union and the members we serve and lead; to further our aims and fight for improved terms and conditions. Our priorities are achieving fair pay; protecting pensions and the compensation scheme; health, Safety and Wellbeing the recruitment of new members, representatives and advocates to stabilise and build the future of PCS.