TUC president and POA leader STEVE GILLAN speaks to Ben Chacko on the eve of Congress 2026
“THE media sometimes portrays civil servants as overpaid bowler-hatted bureaucrats, but we are working people doing a very difficult job — often not a very popular one — implementing government policy, but we try to do a good job and treat people with respect.”
Fran Heathcote, president of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, is busy preparing for the union’s three-day 2023 conference in Brighton, which kicks off today.
It’s been quite a year since the union’s last annual meet-up. A national dispute with the Tory government over several issues, including pensions, job security and redundancy terms, has grown increasingly bitter.
In a wide-ranging interview, JEREMY CORBYN talks to Ben Chacko about the difficulties the new Prime Minister faces and why he sees no future in Labour
CIVILIAN police workers are to go on strike in the new year amid disputes over pay
Roger McKenzie talks to general secretary of Unison CHRISTINA McANEA about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on members, the local government funding emergency and the threat of Reform UK
Labour will find increases in the state pension age are unacceptable, just as cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance, personal independence payments and universal credit are — it needs to change direction immediately, writes PCS general secretary FRAN HEATHCOTE


