PCS members on strike, photo Helen Pattison

PCS members on strike, photo Helen Pattison   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Katrine Williams, vice-president PCS DWP group (personal capacity)

Broad Left Network members are building for a strong ‘yes’ vote in the DWP consultative ballot for PCS Jobcentre members which starts on 5 May and runs until 21 May.

We have been campaigning hard to build up collective response to the attacks from management on our members. The government is intent on giving the impression that everything is getting back to normal, despite the risks in our communities from Covid-19.

The Tories are also intent in putting the harsh welfare system back in place to penalise the claimants. Our members have been able to focus on paying benefits and supporting the public over the past year. And have been able to fully deliver services while keeping everyone safe, without the need to bring anyone into the workplace, while also providing face-to-face services to the limited number of claimants who have not been able to use remote channels.

The ballot will show the strength of feeling about safety and how services should be delivered with our members having the control over how best to support individual claimants. Management are intent on bringing everyone needlessly into the Jobcentres and the full strength of our membership needs to be mobilised to resist this.


PCS ballot closes 13 May – vote Broad Left Network

Dave Semple, PCS national executive committee member (personal capacity)

On 13 May the ballot closes for PCS president and national executive. This deadline takes no account of postal delivery time. So in reality just a few days remain to maximise the Broad Left Network vote.

A vote for Socialist Party member Marion Lloyd for president and for the Broad Left Network-supported national executive council candidates is a vote for a democratic union and a fighting leadership. A vote to make a stand against pay cuts and attacks on pensions and conditions. A vote to use our collective strength to protect all members.

Socialist Party members in PCS call upon activists and members to vote for these Broad Left Network-supported candidates.

Broad Left Network candidates

president: Marion Lloyd (BEIS); vice presidents: Fiona Brittle (Scot Gov), Sarah Brown (Met Police), Dave Semple (DWP); national executive committee: Andi Bridges (HMRC), Fiona Brittle (Scot Gov), Alex Brown (Health), Sarah Brown (Met Police), Jaime Davies (HMRC), Kevin Denman (Met Police), Alan Dennis (DSG), Nick Doyle (HMRC), Gill Foxton (DfE), Sue Francis (BEIS), Paul Guinnane (DfE), Rachel Heemskerk (DWP), Marion Lloyd (BEIS), Tom Lowry (DWP), Rachelle Mcdougall (HMRC), Nick Parker (BEIS), Dave Rees (DWP), Rob Ritchie (Met Police), Jon-Paul Rosser (HMRC), Dave Semple (DWP), Paul Suter (DWP), Saorsa-Amatheia Tweedale (DWP), Katrine Williams (DWP), Craig Worswick (DWP), Colin Young (DfE), Bobby Young (HMRC)