You are:

  • Home »
  • Equality »
  • Equality, health and safety department contacts

Staffing of Department

Bargaining, Equality and Policy Support Department (BEPS)

The Equality, Health & Safety Department is part of Bargaining, Equality and Policy Support. We are based at PCS London Headquarters, Clapham Junction and are responsible for developing and implementing PCS policies for our members on Equal Opportunities and Health & Safety.

The main responsibilities of the department include negotiations with the Cabinet Office on Civil Service equality policies, health & safety, servicing PCS national forums for women, black, disabled and lesbian, gay, bi sexual and transgender members, health & safety representatives and providing advice and guidance to PCS negotiators, reps and members on best practice in employment and on health & safety and discrimination law. The Equality, Health & Safety department also organises conferences, seminars and meetings for the all the equality and health & safety forums.

Geoff Lewtas, Senior National Officer - Director of Bargaining, Equality and Policy Support

 

Geoff has wide responsibilities, which include the Equality, Health and Safety Dept; the National and Equal Pay Unit and other Policy, Research work plus the PCS Information Service.

email: geoff@pcs.org.uk

Phyllis Opoku-Gyimah, Head of the Equality, Health & Safety Department

 

Phyllis has overall responsibility for Equality, Health & Safety department. Priorities contribute to PCS policies on equal opportunity by developing innovative workplace strategies to tackle inequality and discrimination.

Phyllis has an over-arching responsibility for work around the Single Equality Act which is to strengthen the law to support progress on equality.

Phyllis negotiates with the Cabinet Office on Equality and Diversity, she is the Secretary to the NEC Equalities Committee and National Women’s Forum and leads on issues relating to Gender. 

e-mail: phyllis@pcs.org.uk

Lorna Campbell, Equality Officer areas of responsibility:

 

  • Race
  • Disability
  • Religion / Belief
  • Immigration and Asylum
  • Secretary to the National Black Members Forum.
  • Secretary to the National Disability Forum
  • CCSU Equalities Committee
  • Cabinet Office: Disability Task Force Diversity
  • Anti Fascism and Anti Racism
  • Black Members and Disabled Members Seminar

e-mail: lorna@pcs.org.uk

Carl Banks, Equality H&S Officer areas of responsibility:

 

  • LGBT equalities/sexuality
  • Proud
  • LGBT Seminar
  • Health, safety and well-being
  • NEC Equalities Committee
  • Secretary to the National Health and Safety Forum
  • CCSU Health, Safety & Well-Being Committee
  • CCSU Equalities Committee
  • Cabinet Office: H&S and Well-Being Diversity
  • Hazards conference

e-mail: carl@pcs.org.uk

Ritu Chabra – Equality Coordinator areas of responsibility:

 

  • Develop, support and work with Regional Black Members Networks and Regional Disabled members Networks
  • Develop, support and work with Groups and National Branches to action plan to tackle under-representation by holding workshops, training or annual equality seminars
  • Organise and manage the annual ‘Value4All’ event currently aimed at regional black members network convenors and regional organisers.

e-mail: ritu@pcs.org.uk

Graham O’Hanlon & Mary Doolin – Equality Project Officers (Union Modernisation Fund)
(Based in the PCS Liverpool office)

 

  • All aspects of work/advice involving Branch Equality Reps (BEOs)
  • Training for BEO
  • NEC Equalities Committee
  • Develop, support and work with BEOs, Negotiators to ensure that positive proactive aspects of Industrial Relations are developed in the workplace.
  • Organise and manage the annual Consultative Conference currently aimed at BEOs ensuring ongoing support in their roles.

email: graham@pcs.org.uk  and maryd@pcs.org.uk

Admin Team

  • Teresa Howes, Executive Officer, is the department’s office manager, overseeing all administrative support and organisational arrangements for the various forums, equality seminars and delegations to the TUC equality conferences.
    e-mail: teresaho@pcs.org.uk
     
  • Siobhan Maguire, Equality Assistant, provides secretarial and administrative support to the department undertaking work relating to the National Women’s and LGBT Seminars, Proud, National Health and Safety, and National Women’s Forums
    e-mail: siobhan@pcs.org.uk 
     
  • Eunice Lewis, Equality Assistant, provides secretarial and administrative support to the department undertaking work relating to the National Black Member’s and Disability Seminars, and the National Black Member’s and National Disability Forums. e-mail: eunice@pcs.org.uk

Contacts

Equality is at the heart of everything we do. In the way we organise ourselves and campaign we always strive to ensure we are representing all of our members.

Our equality officers work with members to promote equality and tackle discrimination in the workplace, society and the wider world.
We are committed to ensuring those members in groups currently under-represented in our union’s structures are encouraged and supported to play a full and active role.

Social Bookmarking

How to use social bookmarking