Fran Heathcote Explained

Fran Heathcote is a British trade unionist and the current General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), having assumed the office on 1 February 2024 following the retirement of Mark Serwotka.

She served as the union's president until her election as General Secretary.^{[1] [2]}

2023 General Secretary Election

On 17 May 2023, Mark Serwotka announced^[3] that he would stand down as General Secretary after 23 years. In the subsequent election to choose his successor, Heathcote, backed by the Left Unity faction defeated Marion Lloyd of the Broad Left faction. She was elected on 10,340 votes to Lloyd's 9,557.^[4]

Notes and References

1. News: Markson . Tevye . Pay talks, hybrid working and strikes: PCS’s new general secretary Fran Heathcote sets out her stall . 14 May 2024 . Civil Service World . 31 January 2024 . en.
2. News: Union chief laments being blocked from selling Palestinian badges to civil servants . 14 May 2024 . The Jewish Chronicle . en.
3. Web site: Civil service union chief Mark Serwotka to retire after 23 years . 17 May 2023 .
4. Web site: Civil service's biggest union names first female general secretary . 15 December 2023 .