Rep of the Year 2013 - David Badger

No time to waste to organise and win!

Since taking on the role of union rep at the Swansea Waste Disposal Company just over a year ago, David Badger has more than doubled the number of union members in his workplace and succeeded in getting many agency workers at the site taken on in permanent jobs.

David's hard work has not only improved the lives of many of his members. Strengthening the union has also helped to develop a culture of trust and partnership between managers, the union and the workers on the shop floor. The success of this partnership approach has led to a positive change in morale, and a culture where managers listen to and take up ideas from the workers on the shop floor.

These ideas have brought about innovative changes in practices and different ways of working at the waste and recylcing plant in Moriston. The changes have led the team at the site being recognised with a prestigious UK national industry award, The PEEL People's Cup. As well as being a key part of this award winning team, David Badger's individual hard work and success as a union rep has now been recognised by the Wales TUC with the Union Rep of the Year Award.