Join | Update Your Details | Contact | Feedback | Site Map
Usdaw
 
Search
Advanced Search
Ask Jan

Newsroom
Campaigns
About us
Join
Helpful resources
Events
Links
Arena magazine
Jobs at Usdaw
Online store
Contact

Find out more about
Legal Plus
Get Active
Lifelong Learning
Member Services
Equality
Health & Safety
Political Campaigns
Pensions

Have your say

At what rate are your household expenses rising? (including all essentials like food, travel, bills etc.)

  Less than 5%
6 - 10%
11 - 15%
16 - 20%
More than 20%
View results
 
Arena Magazine 2008 Issue 1 Spring Arena

26 and below

Young members play a vital role in the union especially as reps, arena caught up with Northern Ireland’s Paul Best.

Why did you join/get involved in the union?

I believe all workers should be protected at work.

What's good about the union?

The many benefits like free legal advice, employment protection and help for students negotiating time off to study for exams.

What difference has Usdaw made to your life?

The high quality training. It's given me more confidence to help members.

How active is the union in your workplace?

Not as active as it could be, but I'm working on some ideas for recruitment days in 2008. Membership is around the 70-75 per cent mark - not as high as I'd like but up from around 50 per cent when I first became the rep.

Are there many students working in your workplace?

Yes. Having been one I know they are hit and miss to recruit. They're one of the most vulnerable groups of workers and need protection. But many see their current employment as unimportant and would rather keep their money.

Why is it important young workers join the union?

They are very vulnerable and get taken advantage of on a regular basis. They are often treated like children and don't realise they have the same rights as older workers.

If you could introduce one new law what would it be?

More support for parents with young children.

How would you increase membership?

More time given to reps for recruitment activity and more intensive training centred on recruitment to target young and ethnic minority workers.

I'd encourage more young members to become reps and get on all the Usdaw training courses because young people are the best recruiters of young workers.

What's next for Paul Best?

The mental asylum! But seriously, more training, particularly on recruitment, so I can be a better rep and recruit more members.

Trivia

Age: 22

Works: Tesco: Dunmurry, Belfast

Lives: Dunmurry, Co. Antrim

Job: Part-time bakery assistant

Student? Not any more I graduated last year from Queen's University Belfast in Film and Media Studies

Union position? Rep

What was your first job and earliest memory? A paper round - big dogs, bad weather, bad times!

Are you going on holiday this year? Yes, I'm away to Portugal in August

Favourite holiday destination? My bed! Probably Berlin

If your house was burning down what would you save? Myself and my cat!

Which famous person would you like to meet? Sir Alex Ferguson

Favourite film? Schindler's List

Favourite TV programme? Only Fools and Horses

Favourite Band/Artist? Fall Out Boy

Where do you go for a night out? The local pub

What's a typical week/weekend for you? Work, drink, eat and sleep, in that order! I try and fit in the odd game of football in between

Which person has had the greatest influence on you? Probably my dad (but don't tell him!)

Who would be your ideal dinner guest? Peter Kay

If I wasn't speaking to you right now I would be... In bed

Any hobbies/interests? Bowling, snooker, football, and basketball


2008 Issue 1 Spring Arena Contents | Previous Issues


Printer Friendly Page Printer Friendly Page     Email this page to a friend Email to a Friend


  Join | Update Your Details | Contact | Feedback | Site Map | Privacy | Site Survey
Top top

© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
This page: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/arena_journal/29/26below.html
Last Modified: Friday, 14-Mar-2008 20:53:00 EST
Proudly designed and programmed by Social Change Online
Site Credits

USDAW Online