My main reflection at the end of my career is that I am fitter and thinner than when I started in housing for local government 35 years ago! Union work is hard and demanding and at the beginning of my career the average trade unionist was a heavy smoking/drinking man – who unfortunately would often die pretty soon after retirement (if they made it that far). Instead of fitting in with that stereotype, I wanted to change my outcomes and consider my own wellbeing. So from age 30, I stopped smoking and started swimming – both of which I have maintained, keeping me sane and healthy at difficult parts of my working and home life.
I learnt my leadership and management skills in UNISON, where I undertook a whole range of jobs from organising up to being a senior leader. It was tough at times within a political organisation. By working alongside great people in the union, I was able to learn how to build relationships, listen and make things happen. I learnt the art of self-development and reliance, rooted in a context of working with others and not as an island.
My move to the FDA saw the demographic of the workforce I was representing change from predominantly low-paid women to civil servants, including the most senior officials in the country. However, fundamentally, the workforce issues faced by members were the same: public sector workers subject to poor pay outcomes. No government seems to have the appetite to deal with it – not because they don’t recognise the case for fair pay, but because they deem it too politically difficult.
I have learnt that things do change, however slowly. The progress we should all see in the workplace still has to be fought for and all these years on, I despair about people’s lack of understanding around equality and inclusion. When I first started working, I had no workplace rights as a lesbian, but there is now legislation and statutory grounds to enforce my rights.
I have spent my career trying to advance equality and leading policy development. Whilst there has been progress developing thoughtful policy, the implementation is by happenchance without employers driving the skills to manage difficult situations. All too often, we see this lead to union casework, employment tribunals or internal processes, which drain employers, unions and individuals alike. The constant political attacks and the lack of understanding remain stubborn and depressing.
Unions play a key role in helping our members understand their pension and as I reflect on my retirement, I have delved into how I can live in my next 20-plus years (fingers crossed). Whilst I know I am pensions literate, having been the strategic lead for some years at the FDA, it is so important to take an interest in your own pension and to financially plan like you do other aspects of your life.
I have been working with volunteers my entire career and I owe so much to them. It’s the day-to-day trade union workplace representatives who I value and enjoy working with. In the case of the FDA, this means getting to work with reps who are active across all four nations of the UK, including policy advisers, lawyers, tax professionals, statisticians, museum curators and diplomats based throughout the world.
Looking to the future, I am very positive about the change the current government is pursuing with their Make Work Pay initiative. This is long overdue because, frankly, employers are not good enough at talking to and engaging with their staff to improve employee relations. After 35 years, I know that a well-organised and pragmatic union is the best way to ensure that!