Why did I get involved?

There are over 40,000 UNISON activists working hard to look after their colleagues at work. But they don’t get paid, can risk the wrath of their managers and sometimes even their own workmates. Here they tell us why they got involved, in their own words. The accidental activistThe helperThe confidence builderThe pay campaignersThinking about getting more active in your workplace? The accidental activist “I became active by accident. There was a pay dispute and I was asked by the union just to gather the views of my colleagues and to update them. I had no intention of being an activist. “I went to a union meeting to get an update and decided: I could do a better job than some of the people here! I’ve no regrets at all. I’ve met amazing people and I’ve been to places I never would have been to.” Debi Potter, police control room operator The helper “My first time at a UNISON meeting was a little bit confusing. I had to bring a personal assistant as well. As a disabled person with learning difficulties, I have to try to work with it – to try to adapt each thing we discuss: to ask: how will I understand what this means. It’s very difficult. Hopefully it will get better. “I’m a greater London branch member of UNISON. I attend meetings to do with members or LGBT members or disabled members. “Why am I doing it? I want to help other disabled people and other LGBT people as well. “It’s mostly about employers accepting who you ar...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Magazine activist activists activists' learning campaigning equal pay organising Source Type: news