PCS elects new leader

The PCS public and commercial services union will become the latest large union to be led by a woman after Fran Heathcote won last month’s election to replace Mark Serwotka as general secretary.

Heathcote will be the first woman leader in the 130-year history of PCS and its predecessor unions, though in truth this would have been the case whatever the result, as both candidates were female.

But in the end, it was the president, Heathcote, who won a narrow victory over Marion Lloyd of 52% to 48% to lead the 190,000-member union.

A simultaneous election was held for the number two in the union — the assistant general secretary post.

This was won by incumbent John Maloney, who beat challenger Paul O’Connor by 59% to 41%. This was despite the fact that Heathcote and O’Connor had run on a joint ticket.

Heathcote, who had been supported by Serwotka, gave her “thanks to Mark for all his fantastic work over the last 23 years.”