Award for top learning rep

Domestic assistant and UNISON member Mary Locke was named the TUC Union Learning Rep of the Year at Congress last month.

Locke, who became a learning rep in 2001, won the award for encouraging her colleagues in the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust to get back into learning. She has helped to set up courses for hospital staff, as well as assisting them to enrol on local college courses - resulting in them getting a range of qualifications.

By encouraging low-paid women workers (particularly those from the domestic and catering backgrounds) to start learning, she has helped remove the barriers for people who traditionally haven't had fair access to training and learning opportunities at work.

"I feel delighted and very honoured to win this award," said Locke. "I hope it will encourage others to become a union learning rep and help open up learning opportunities for workers."