Reps honoured for work

Hard-working union activists from retail and distribution union Usdaw were honoured at a glitzy awards ceremony last month. The annual event celebrates the work of reps in recruiting and organising among other areas of activity.

The winner of the individual recruitment award was Tesco worker Kirti Shah, who signed up 500 members and 40 reps, many from the Asian community. Meanwhile Terry Hamp won the individual organising award after doubling the membership at his CRL site in Alfreton and recruiting 20 new reps.

The team recruitment and organising award went to reps at the Tesco distribution centre in Bristol, which opened a year ago. The team of reps have built membership up to 70 per cent. And a Tesco manager, Phil Monaghan, won the “most promising new activist” award after recruiting 350 new members while on “stand down”.

Awards were also presented for campaigning, health and safety, union learning and equalities.

General secretary John Hannett said: “This is all about recognising the hard work that our reps are putting in on a day-to-day basis.Without our activists Usdaw would not have made the fantastic progress it has made over the last few years.”