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Network Journal 2007 Issue 1 Jan/Feb |
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A promising and busy year ahead
By John Hannett - General Secretary
Standing still has never been an option for anyone involved in Usdaw and 2007 will be no different.
John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary
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Our sectors are fast moving, dynamic and in a permanent state of change. Our challenge is to be as innovative in our way of working as the companies we deal with are.
We also know our sectors have a high turnover of staff which means recruitment is usually a permanent requirement for the majority of our reps.
Signing up new members is not easy at the best of times, but I'm confident our reps are our best recruiting sergeants. They know their sectors, the important issues and are in touch on a day-to-day basis with members and potential members.
It is our army of reps that hold the key to our continued success in 2007. That's why we have invested so heavily in our training facilities, the Academy, and the number of get-togethers we provide.
These get-togethers help reps share experiences, discuss ideas and instill a real sense of belonging which is what being active in Usdaw is all about.
This union prides itself on the support, advice and training it provides for reps and this will continue apace again this year.
The Organising Awards for 2006 were a great success. We were determined to make the occasion even better than the first year in 2005 and we certainly succeeded.
The Awards process underlined to me the strength in-depth we have among our reps. The quality of the nominations was very high and picking winners from the eight categories was a very difficult task for the executive council.
As anyone who has ever been a rep knows, it can be a very difficult and often thankless task. The Awards night allows Usdaw to say a big thank you to our activists, which I think is only right and proper.
The union has ambitious plans for the next 12 months. Our campaigns will grow, our profile will increase, and we will become even more professional.
I'm looking forward to the challenges 2007 will provide. I'm sure with all of our members, reps and officials pulling together, we can build on our growing reputation as a well-respected union which has a major influence in workplaces across the UK.
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