If we're going to change the world of work for the better - we need young people to get repping

Reps and activists are the backbone of the union movement. They recruit workers to the union, win new workplace policies, represent members and organise for industrial action. Without them, we are all worse off.  

This Young Workers Month, I spoke to young reps across the movement on what it’s like and why others should get involved.  

If you’re inspired by these stories, speak to your union about becoming a rep! 

Joshua Boyle – GMB National Rep for ASDA Southern Region 

"I joined GMB because I have a long history of my family of being union members. My great-great-grandfather was a union representative, as were both my grandads.  I became a union rep when I started working at a large supermarket chain as a delivery driver and we had one winter with storm like conditions. I didn't feel as though the management were keeping our health & safety in mind, and I couldn't sit by and watch people get injured.  

The most valuable part of being a rep, has been the wealth of training courses and opportunities to attend conferences with likeminded individuals. It also gives me a sense of purpose much bigger than my substantive post. I represent around 3,000 members in the retail sector, and the feeling you get when you manage to save someone's job is immense. I have also been elected to the organising committee for the Red Flag Festival, a yearly Trade Union festival which is held in Co. Meath, Republic of Ireland every year, through my work as a rep.  

Through the union, we have won a freezing of a location rate, which increased our wages across the company. This was a big step and meant that the employer had to take our conditions and pay seriously.

For anyone who isn't sure about joining a union, join. Statistically unionised workplaces are much safer, and it gives you a backstop in case anything goes wrong at work. But it is more than simply an insurance policy or a membership club; unions win better conditions for the members and can push even the most stubborn employers to change and adapt to better reflect its workforce."

Mais Robinson, Chair of Equity LGBT+ Committee and member of TUC Young Workers’ Committee

"I joined straight out of drama school, which is quite common. Equity offered personal liability insurance, support with pensions and other services but I soon realised it was so much more. Equity was winning things that I had thought were impossible, like 17% pay increases in the West End. I would have assumed in the West End, you wouldn't get much say but with a union you do.  

My friends encouraged me to get more involved. I was unsure about standing for positions as I didn't have specialised knowledge and thought I should know more about the history of unions for example, but I got loads of support when I did it and I now feel way more comfortable to learn on the job. I realised the lived experience you have, and knowledge of your workplace is so important.  

Acting collectively has been so important. We had a transphobic incident at a fitting, and we supported the member in the moment but then as members we decided we wanted a policy in place around trans identities and costume fitting. We were able to negotiate this and whilst the person should never have had to deal with that in the first place, the policy will hopefully mean it won't happen in the future. 

Joining a union is the way to end the normalisation of bad work. We shouldn’t have to hope that we get a good boss who treats us well. And whilst unions defend your basic rights, they also fight for more, which is what everyone deserves."

Bradley Corrigan, UTAW/ CWU rep in an unrecognised workplace and member of TUC LGBT+ Committee 

"I became a member because I saw changes in my workplace happening that I didn’t agree with. Things like changing weekend rotations and increasing weekend work without consultation, putting huge limitations on when teams could book holiday and taking employees through harsh and demeaning absence review policy. I always knew trade unions were the best way to get your voices heard collectively but I hadn’t found the right one for me until I found UTAW.  

I became a rep because I wanted to stand up for other people in any way I could. In pre-recognition workplaces it’s hard to do that on a collective scale so by being a rep I can help one person at a time and work towards building a collective movement.  

The most valuable thing about being a union member and rep has been meeting other people from different areas of my own union, and different unions altogether. It’s taught me that no matter how much I might feel it sometimes, I’m not alone - and I don’t exist in a silo. We’re a huge movement fighting for better conditions for everyone. Meeting other people shows me the sense of solidarity we have as trade unionists and teaches me skills that I can, and do, bring into my own organising.  

At my workplace we’ve recently started negotiations for an Informing and Consulting Employees agreement. It will create a forum where employees are consulted on issues impacting them, things like terms and conditions, health and safety and changes to working conditions.  Working in unrecognised workplaces is a slow and constant fight, but this is a sign that we’re headed in the right direction - and soon we’ll win recognition.  

More young people should become reps so they can learn their rights, and how to stand up for them. Both for yourself and for others. Workplace reps are the backbone of our movement, and if we’re going to change the world of work for the better - we need young people to get repping."

Sarah Green, NEU rep and member of TUC Young Workers’ Committee

"I first stepped into the rep role in my first year of teaching. It sounds trite but for any action at a local level or for national action to be done, you need reps in the workplace. They are the bedrock of unions.  

I work in an Academy Trust, and we had quite a few Muslim staff not getting paid leave for Eid. Ironically the Academy had set up an Eid lunch as a diversity initiative, but they were refusing to give staff the time off to celebrate it. We submitted a collective grievance, created a model policy and got a group of staff together who would benefit from additional paid leave for lots of different reasons. We won two additional days paid leave that could be taken for religious observance but also other events such as moving house. We’ve also balloted for strike action and as a result the Trust got rid of our unfair performance related pay system. The wins we’ve had come down to organising: surveying members, having those one-to-one conversations, holding regular meetings, sending minutes to members and giving national updates.  

In school, there wasn't really a collective memory of strike action or the the idea of collectivising around something, so, I can completely get that being a rep can seem quite isolating. But once you step into the role and start making quick wins, you start to realise that a lot of people just appreciate having someone speaking up for them and someone representing an issue. And once you start doing that collectively, and if you’ve got your members behind you, it is much much easier. And always remember what you’re bring to employers isn't just you kicking up a fuss, it's issues that members have brought to you."

Charlie Gough – Usdaw rep and Member of TUC Young Workers’ Committee 

"Both my maternal and paternal grandparents and great grandparents were all active members of their trade unions. I was told stories of their experiences on picket lines, working as shop stewards and health safety reps from an early age and they really stuck with me.  

When I eventually was hired by my current employer, it was the first chance I had to join a recognised trade union and after hearing the benefits in my induction and having that previous knowledge and family history, for me it was a no brainer to join.  

I wanted to become a rep to continue my family history but also the encouragement of some of my colleagues who knew that I had an interest. When a fellow USDAW rep visited my workplace one day looking to recruit a new rep for the store, even though it was my day off, I received several phone calls and messages from colleagues encouraging me to take on the role. I agreed as although we had a brilliant rep already in store, there was a need for another to satisfy different shifts and appeal to younger members in store.  

Since then, we have raised the levels of membership amongst young employees to almost 100%. Prior to me becoming a rep, the majority of young people in my workplace weren’t just non-members, they had little to no understanding of trade unions and their benefits. Being a young rep, I feel that I was able to resonate more effectively with the younger workers than previous reps had as I was experiencing many of the same issues and could therefore more effectively represent their needs. I recruited nearly every young person in my workplace, something I’m immensely proud of.  

I personally feel that the most valuable thing is the sense of collective power that accompanies joining any union. When you become a union member you immediately realise that you aren’t just an individual worker at the mercy of your employer, you become another voice amongst your union colleagues to directly influence positive change in your workplace.  

When you become active in the trade union, you have the opportunity to meet amazing likeminded people that often will become lifelong friends that can help and support you at every stage. Most importantly for anyone who is unsure about becoming active in a trade union, change doesn’t happen through inaction. Our movement needs absolutely every voice possible to ensure we continue to grow and change the lives of working people as we have done for centuries."