Public and Commercial Services union leader FRAN HEATHCOTE warns the Chancellor not to take an axe to the Civil Service – and points to measures that would genuinely improve the public sector

As the government ploughs ahead with £3 billion in welfare cuts, arbitrary office-return mandates, and below-inflation pay rises, women will bear the brunt through deepening poverty and increased caring burdens, argues FRAN HEATHCOTE

There is no stronger economy without the stronger wages that provide extra disposable income, which is why workers – including civil servants – must have their pay boosted in real terms, along with restored union rights and insourcing, says FRAN HEATHCOTE

As Labour takes power, PCS general secretary FRAN HEATHCOTE urges solidarity to push for workers’ rights and calls for pension justice and job security after years of Tory attacks on civil servants

The outrageous minimum service levels legislation has been brought in to break the growing momentum of our movement — but these attacks won’t work, writes PCS general secretary FRAN HEATHCOTE

New PCS general secretary FRAN HEATHCOTE talks about the women who reshaped the cause of labour

PCS leader FRAN HEATHCOTE draws the parallels between a major trade union rights battle 40 years ago and the fight we have ahead of us today

Alongside education workers, lecturers, bus drivers, railway workers and health workers, 133,000 civil servants will be taking strike action on budget day, March 15 in a significant escalation, writes FRAN HEATHCOTE

We must unite as never before, defending public services for workers, for service users and for claimants alike, writes PCS national president FRAN HEATHCOTE

The government’s claim that cuts are not ideological is a downright lie — the country needs more Civil Service workers not fewer. It's time for us to go on the offensive with a united response from the union movement, argues FRAN HEATHCOTE

Fighting separately has allowed the Tories to divide and isolate us – we need to build up union strength and co-ordinate effectively, warns FRAN HEATHCOTE of PCS

Public and Commercial Services Union national president FRAN HEATHCOTE reports on the union’s four-day PCS strike action at Swansea DVLA earlier this week