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Arena Magazine 2006 Issue 4 Autumn Arena |
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People like you – Su Patel
You won’t find many people who wear more hats than Su Patel who, since getting involved with Usdaw five years ago, is now an in-store rep, health and safety rep, and mobile learning rep. And if that was not enough she is also branch chair, a divisional councillor and sits on the divisional and national equalities forum.
The mother-of-two has spent 25 years in retail and has worked at most of the well-known food retailers. She's been at the Sainsbury's Richmond store for six years where she works as a license to trade champion, looking after all in-store safety issues. It was here where her Usdaw involvement took off.
"I had a problem with a previous manager and my local official Sam Odusina helped me to sort it out," she said. "At the same time one of the other reps was leaving and I was invited to take her place. Although I had my doubts, my two sons were 12 and 8 at the time, I decided to give it a go."
Su was soon on her first training course, which proved to be an eye-opener. "It was then I realised how little I knew about my rights at work," she said. "Since that first course I've been on every course under the Usdaw sun! You name it - health and safety, employment rights, maternity rights. I've been on residential courses, I've done home study courses, oh yes - and I did six months on the Usdaw Academy in 2004."
Su is one of three in-store reps, colleagues Maureen Douglas-Bobb and Tina Hay complete the team, who between them look after around 210 members. "The three of us share the workload and it works really well," said Su. "We have a good working relationship with the store management team. I'm allowed to represent members in other stores as well. We always try to sort out any problems on an informal basis and this usually works.
We have around 80 per cent membership in our store even though there are a lot of students who work here and some migrant workers, mainly Poles and Czechs.
"Looking back I've definitely changed over these last five years. I'm certainly more confident. Once I would accept anything I was told but not now, I'll speak up and stand my ground if I believe I'm right. The union has certainly taught me to air my views and express my opinions. There are days when I think - I wish I could slow down a little - but I can't and most of the time I really enjoy my union work.
"I do spend a fair bit of time away from home so I tend not to go out after I've been on my travels. I'm a family-orientated person and love spending time with them and friends. I'm also a keen DIY fan and spend a lot of my time doing jobs around the house. My husband Yogesh, a night shift supervisor with Sainsbury's, does the cooking and cleaning, so that's a fair swap I think."
Su works 30 hours a week Monday to Friday and if she isn't away on union business she likes to read, swim or go for a walk. "We have a few family weddings coming up so our time is pretty much accounted for over the next few months. My eldest son Sachin is starting university soon so we're helping to get him sorted out. The youngest Akshay is 14 and a typical teenager! All-in-all we're a busy family but we like it that way."
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