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Arena Magazine 2006 Issue 3 Summer Arena |
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People like you - Hayley Pickles
Getting active in Usdaw has been a life changing experience for Hayley Pickles as the once quiet unassuming mother-of-five is now an outgoing, confident, busy woman who has astounded her family and friends over the last five years.
The remarkable turnaround started in 2001 when Hayley, who works at the Tesco store in Scarborough, became involved in the union's Protect Christmas Day campaign. Since then she's not looked back. She doubled membership at the store, went on a range of courses, and was rubbing shoulders with the Prime Minister Tony Blair last year at a special Downing Street reception.
"They say life starts at 40 but for me it was when I was 38," she said. "That's when I became active. Doors have opened for me although the more knowledgeable I became I did give one or two of them a shove!
"Five years ago at my store we didn't have a clue about the union. When I asked my local official I was amazed at what was going on 'behind the scenes'. It was a whole new world for me."
Hayley's Usdaw involvement progressed rapidly which is all the more astounding when you consider her and husband Gary, 52, a retail manager, have five children, Ria, 23, Kerry, 22, Greg, 21, Holly, 16 and Rhys, 9. The eldest three have all gone to University, something mum and dad are rightly proud of. "I left school at 16," said Hayley. "I could barely read or write. So I'm thrilled at their progress. At times we've had to struggle to fund them. At one point I had two jobs and was working 60 hours a week for 18 months to help fund Ria's first year at University.
"The kids, well four of them aren't kids anymore, have noticed the change in me and we all have a good laugh about it. Similarly, friends of mine have said that they've not seen anyone change as much as I have.
"I suppose I followed my mum's example for many years and did the usual cooking, cleaning, looking after the kids routine. Don't get me wrong I was happy with that then but I couldn't go back.
"I rarely used to go out. Now I'm out and about all over the place. I meet loads of people and I've realised there's a lot more to life. Happily I'm not working 60 hours a week anymore and my time is split between working in the Tesco canteen and visiting staff at large and small stores to encourage them to get involved in Lifelong Learning. I go to all the big union conferences and I'm also a parish councillor.
"I'm really enjoying life. In fact I'm almost waiting for the bubble to burst. I've loads to look forward to including a visit to the Houses of Parliament to meet a senior government minister. I'm driven by a sense of fair play, that's what I want to see more of. Being in Usdaw has given me the chance to make that difference."
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