UNISON Ulearn Northern Ireland

I’ve been working as a porter in the hospital for the last fifteen years. I left school with no qualifications, I never really liked school and didn’t see the importance at the time. I actually went for the portering job because it was one of the few jobs around where they didn’t look for qualifications.

I got involved with UNISON around the time of the industrial action around terms and conditions. At that time, I took part in marches and the other events and we had a really active steward in portering. He had been a steward for a long time and decided he needed a break, and asked me would I be interested. To be honest I wasn’t initially but my colleagues encouraged me, so I went for it.

I did the stewards course and then the follow up. It was really interesting meeting different people who were all new stewards like me. It was the first time I’d been in a classroom for twenty years and it was a very different experience. We were all adults and the tutor was our age. The course was based on a lot of discussions and role plays which really helped me learn. To me learning was writing down all the time and trying to remember stuff. I’m better at talking and being told things, so the format suited me. In fact it would suit anyone because it’s discussion and debate and your experience is relevant. It was a fun and relaxing environment. As a porter I was with nurses and clerical officers, all there to learn to be a steward.

Being a steward has its ups and downs. But with the back up of your branch, it’s a brilliant experience. There’s a sense of feeling of elation when you get something for someone or are able to help them out by signposting them in the right direction. In the RVH in particular UNISON stewards are very pro-active. If there’s anything going on in the hospital UNISON is always at the front of it.

I also did the Health & Safety course. Again it was good to meet different people and the format was similar with discussion and role plays. The tasks we had to do were outstanding, very challenging. It’s been useful for my job and I’ve had to deal with quite a few health and safety issues. If something is out of place, and the health and safety rep brings it to the attention of management nine times out of ten you’ll get a positive response.

I’ve just completed the One Step Ahead course, which is a refresher course for people like me who have been stewards for a longer period of time. It was really useful, I certainly learned things I didn’t know despite my experience. There are always changes in the union or in the law so the course is very important.

Anyone who feels they can help colleagues in any way should give being a steward a go. It is voluntary, but the training is excellent and the sense of wellbeing you get with your successes is great.