Join us to help build the movement against war

The event is taking place at Central Hall Westminster, at a time of growing global instability and deep concern about the impact of conflict on working people.

Doors open at 9.30am for assembly, with the main conference beginning at 11.30am. PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote is speaking alongside MPs, trade union leaders, international guests and anti-war campaigners. 

The conference comes amid renewed warnings about rising military spending and the diversion of resources away from public services. Families across the UK are facing increased pressure from the cost of living, while fears about war and conscription are once again part of public debate. For PCS, these issues are not separate from the everyday concerns of members but are directly connected to jobs, pay and living standards.

PCS is willing to cover reasonable ticket fees and travel costs for members wishing to attend with agreement from their regional or national secretary.

Contact [email protected] for assistance.

Shared understanding

Fran has been clear about why PCS engages on international issues highlighting that members have democratically backed affiliations to organisations such as Stop the War Coalition, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign. These decisions reflect a shared understanding that injustice must be challenged wherever it occurs and that global events have real consequences at home.

Conflicts across the world are already affecting members through rising inflation and pressure on government finances. When economic forecasts are downgraded, it is public services and the workers who deliver them who feel the impact first. 

Fran, writing in the Morning Star said: “Who wants to live in a country with shiny artillery sitting idle, while record numbers of families are homeless and millions of our children’s lives are scarred by poverty? NHS waiting lists mean access to vital healthcare is effectively rationed and social care remains a national disgrace.”

The conference provides an opportunity to build international solidarity and strengthen collective opposition to war and imperialism. It will also highlight the importance of defending democratic rights, including the right to protest, and standing in solidarity with those facing repression around the world.

PCS has a long history of campaigning for peace, from opposing past conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq to supporting current movements against war and occupation. The union remains committed to challenging injustice and working alongside affiliates to promote a more peaceful and fair society.