Home Office Group Conference 2024

Another year, another conference. Over the past twelve months your group executive committee has been busy behind the scenes to action the motions passed at group conference 2023, alongside the ad hoc business of challenging the increasingly desperate policies of a government in its death throes.

This year’s group conference offered the opportunity to reflect on the group’s achievements in 2023/24. In particular, Mike Jones and James Cox, as group secretary and group president respectively, were commended for their continued leadership during the most challenging years in the history of the Home Office group, seeing off both the push back policy and (as we’ve latterly found out) the Rwanda scheme.

Assistant group secretary Stephen Taylor also received commendations for his sterling work in organising the ongoing industrial action campaign at Heathrow.

Most of all it was also encouraging to see that more branches were represented at group conference than we’ve seen for many years, ensuring that a wide range of members’ views were reflected in the debates, which those who were present will surely agree were lively, comradely and respectful.

If there was one negative to come from this year’s conference, it was the reduced number of motions up for debate. Motions provide a clear instruction to the GEC about what your priorities are for the forthcoming year, and while the committee now has many excellent new motions to be carrying on with, there are fewer than previous years.

If you’ve ever been interested in attending PCS conference, either virtually or at the venue in Brighton, please do ask your branch officers about it. It is an invigorating experience that often leaves delegates feeling inspired to get more involved in their union (and hopefully submit some motions for next year…).