Work of union reps recognised


The TUC’s Organising Representative Award 2016 was won by Darren Barber, an activist with public services union UNISON. As branch secretary at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, he was responsible for growing the membership from 365 to 810, and the number of active UNISON stewards from two to 14. 


UNISON said that, thanks to Barber’s work, the union was now “an active and dynamic force within the hospital, providing a wide range of organising support and opportunities for members and staff”.


The Congress Award for Youth was also given to a rep who had been growing his union membership. Jake O’Malley, a GMB general union rep at Amey in Sheffield, recruited over 100 new members after completing his rep training last year. He has already become lead rep on the site and is currently leading negotiations with management.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/about-tuc/tuc-congress-lay-rep-awards-2016

https://eastern.unison.org.uk/news/article/2016/09/darren-barber-top-organiser

www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/GMB-member-wins-congress-youth-award