This Heart Unions Week, the SoR is encouraging members to celebrate the vital work of trade unions and workplace representatives in protecting employment rights, developing learning opportunities and improving workplace safety.
Christopher Rigby is one such industrial relations rep, as well as a diagnostic radiographer at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust in West Yorkshire.
His work as a radiographer is based primarily in X-ray and CT, but as a union rep Mr Rigby liaises between staff and management, represents staff members in HR meetings and participates in the NHS Staffside management partnership groups.
'Less and less awareness'
Mr Rigby first became a union rep as a “spur of the moment” decision – one of his colleagues was no longer able to spare the time for the job, and Mr Rigby volunteered to take over.
Now, he has been a union rep for more than 20 years, and has witnessed more than a few total overhauls in that time.
“Upheavals in management, restructuring – the Agenda for Change pay scale came in as well [while I was union rep],” he added. “I’ve been involved in organising at least a couple of strikes, I’ve been on the picket lines like in Manchester last year, I’ve been involved with students as well over the years.
“I tried to get involved with people and talk to them about what the SoR can do for them. There’s less and less awareness about what the benefits are, which is why the Heart Unions Weeks is such a good idea.”
'A role for everyone'
Getting involved with the industrial relations aspects of the SoR is a good idea, Mr Rigby explained, because it gives you much better insight into the trends and news in the profession.
Union reps are able to meet with reps from across the hospital, with radiographers from across the country, with parts of the team that many don’t usually get the opportunity to talk to.
“Awareness of our profession helps our profession,” he added. “We aren’t just in silos, we’re a smaller cog in the big wheel. I don’t think we always realise that. There’s a role for everyone, however big or small they want it to be. It’s a very welcoming union.
“You can find out what’s going on in the wider picture, in different regions of the country as well. You often find that we have the same issues everywhere. I strongly recommend everyone become active in their regional reps meetings. You’ll learn so much, you’ll make great friends. It’s an honour and a real privilege.”
Heart Unions Week is taking place from 10 to 16 February, with unions across England and Wales using the campaign to raise their profile. This campaign provides an opportunity for SoR members to showcase the unique benefits that the Society of Radiographers offers – benefits that have been designed to serve the specific needs of the radiography workforce.
To learn about the different types of SoR rep roles and how to become a rep, click here.
(Image: Christopher Rigby)