Social security: a trade union issue

Social security is a central issue for society at large and one that is key to the role of trade union. Ahead of PCS annual delegates conference, DWP members met during their group conference to hear about PCS’s leading work on social security.

At today’s event (18), group vice president Martin Cavanagh reflected that many trades unionists in the past didn’t see social security as a trade union issue, just one for PCS members. He said:

“We have an almighty job to do to change that narrative. One of the most fundamental things that has made people take notice is the pandemic – literally overnight, millions of workers were plunged into the social security system. It was a journey they were never expecting have to make but it made them realise what we’ve been saying for decades. A fair and humane society should be judged on how it treats those in need.

“The fight continues. The narrative isn’t just driven by the rise of the far right. Government after government have tried to demonise anyone who claims benefits whether they’re sick or disabled, claiming child benefits or just can’t find work. That lazy and sickening narrative is what we’ve got to turn around. TUC has got to play its part.

“I’m really looking forward to the social security event on 6 June in Bristol. It’s going to be the start of a mobilisation and we’ll look to replicate it in towns and cities cross the UK. DWP workers understand that social security. PCS exists as a union to represent us members as well as to make that system fair. We have to be at the forefront of that change.”

This can be the beginning of something

Linn, a member at DWP Wirral said: “We help people survive, whoever they are. We helped people in the pandemic and we’re helping them now. We help the disabled, the able bodied and people who work.”

Andy Mitchell, a guest speaker from campaign group DPAC, said: “We get a lot of emails from disabled people who are terrified about the prospect of a Reform government. The rhetoric that that party has expressed suggests conditions for disabled people far worse than anything we’ve seen from previous governments.”

Angela Grant, DWP group president added: “It is our time. Not because Labour will give us everything we want but because we know that if we are pushing - all together - then we can influence government and make inroads. We were never going to get this with the Tories but this can be the beginning of something.”

Last autumn PCS launched the policy document Social Security: An alternative vision. It calls on government to rebuild the system administered by DWP members, and to reduce its costs by fixing the labour market and the housing market, and investing in health and social care services. The Bristol event on 6 June will be run in collaboration with DPAC and Unite the Union.

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