My sponsoring Union have been brilliant, have been out on a few visits to see members, have been organising training programmes and meetings to meet my Branches, have had a good deal of input into alot of areas.

Have almost finished the first workplace activity, it’s looking good, even if i do say so myself!! Have coped well with the transition of having to live on my own, have learned to iron and also do a Chicken Casserole.

Have to say thanks to the TUC and my sponsoring Union for giving me this oppurtunity, it’s the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time and i have to pinch myself sometimes in the morning to make sure im not dreaming, it’s brilliant.

Lookign forward to seeing you all soon.

Live the Dream

Christian

The end of the week saw me moving into my accomadation and arranging, re-arranging then arranging some more, till i finaly settled in. Gorgeous place, some of you guys better come and visit.

Well down to business, the first week was lost to the snow, so yesterday i classed that as my official first day. I sat with my coach for a few hours and we went through the processes of the Union and what they wanted from me in the first few weeks.

Meetings were placed in my diary, strategy and future progress to name but a few, then it was visits to meet un-happy members and a chance to organise around some real life issues, at the end of the week (cant wait for that)

Contacting NEM’s late yesterday (National Executive Members) on their feelings and view points on Organising and how they see their Unions place in it all, some excellent feed back so far.

Half way through the first exercise ready for Oxford on the 25th!! Train tickets booked and i have just paid my TV license!! see you all soon.

Christian

He was a steward with Unison for 14 months, before becoming an officer and taking up the position of Joint Trade Union Convenor covering all four trade unions within the authority (UCAT, UNITE, GMB & UNISON) for the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

He thoroughly enjoyed his time within the UNISON branch and cannot thank them enough for providing him with the training and skills to get him where he is today, so a big thank you to UNISON for that!!

He found the recruitment process very demanding and on regular occasions was totally out of his comfort zone, he felt he dealt with the recruitment challenges well and was over the moon when he achieved a place as an Academy Organiser 2010. He would highly recommend the process to anybody who wants to become seriously involved in the trade union movement.

He aspires to be the best he can be and wants to establish himself within the TUC and his sponsoring Union, he wants to promote the importance of organising and the need for Trade Unions to be active in the current climate.

He feels that due to economic downturn, trade unions are going to be at the forefront of many work related issues in the next 18/24 months.

Public service budgets are looking to be cut back and due to the lack of financial resources available, workforces are going to be squeezed in all areas.

He states “in the near future, I feel there will be a surge on Union resources, from individuals and organisations, struggling to cope with economic meltdown. However, if we all pull in the same direction, we organise efficiently and effectively and we work alongside the expertise and togetherness that trade unions provide, I feel that we can weather any storm that is put in our path”