From temporary contract to national executive committee: my journey in PCS

All young members have a vital role to play in our union. For me, getting involved was the natural continuation of the journey I'd been on for the past decade, having been an activist for causes like free education in the student movement and the Labour Party.

Attending the National Union of Students conference as a delegate in 2013 and meeting people with the same socialist ideas and ideals as me was a lightbulb moment; it wasn't enough to simply hold a set of opinions, you had to organise collectively to achieve your goals! From that moment on I never looked back.

After dropping out of university, working as a postal worker, and then spending several months on Universal Credit during the pandemic, I was hired by the DWP as a work coach on a temporary contract.

I couldn't wait to join PCS on my first day, and became an advocate while I waited for my probation to end - so I could finally put myself forward to be elected as a workplace rep. There hadn’t been a rep in my workplace for years.

I realised that despite the hard work of the reps in my branch, there was a capacity issue which left everyone overstretched and without being able to attempt to recruit new activists. I took on the roles of branch and regional young members' officer, and eventually after gaining a permanent post at DWP, I became branch organiser and helped mobilise our high turnouts in all three statutory strike ballots.

I also served as equalities officer, chair, and finally Scotland convenor on the national young members' committee before this year being elected to the national executive committee and brand new Scottish executive committee, a tremendous honour and responsibility.

I would encourage any other young member to see where their skills, passions and lived experience could help shape our collective efforts at fighting for better pay, pensions, and working conditions.