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Network Journal 2005 Issue 3 |
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Strong unions depend on active reps – like you
By John Hannett - General Secretary
Usdaw is one of the strongest, independent unions in the UK and the secret of our success is down to our army of enthusiastic, dedicated and hard-working reps.
To recognise the efforts people like you are putting in to making Usdaw one of the fastest growing unions in the UK we have put in place two exciting initiatives.
The first is the national recruitment prize draw which I'm sure you know all about already. The second is a special National Organising Awards Ceremony - Usdaw's very own Oscars - where reps from all divisions can be nominated for one of eight national awards to be presented on the night. It promises to be an exciting and enjoyable night, which I'm sure will capture the imagination of our reps.
Our union is well known for being a campaigning organisation. Freedom From Fear, Supporting Parents and Carers, Protecting Christmas Day, Lifelong Learning, the National Minimum Wage and Working Tax Credits have all delivered important gains for our members at work and at home.
That's why it's so important to link our campaigning activity with the day-to-day work we do as union reps and officials. Many members have signed up because of these campaigns and as you know many reps become active for the same reason.
Being a union member is more than just about pay and holidays - although these are vitally important. Safety at work, time off to look after the kids or a relative, starting a new course to improve your job prospects and minimum pay rates for young workers are all part and parcel of Usdaw's modern and progressive approach. Our growth as a union is partly down to our energetic and successful campaigns and I would urge you to get involved and let your members and non-members know what we're doing.
And finally, I would encourage all reps to start thinking about the Annual Delegate Meeting in April 2006. It may seem a long way off but you need to start thinking about it now.
Preparations for ADM will begin soon in terms of propositions, nomination papers etc. I want to see as many people as possible at the ADM. The more new delegates and visitors we can get there the more healthy the union will be. But if you want to go you have to start planning now.
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