UNISON is now recruiting and looking for a fantastic regional organiser in Wales.
Tanya Bull (pictured above) became a regional organiser in 2022 and said her job is varied and busy with no two days the same.
Tanya returned from maternity leave when the vacancy became available and said it was a challenge but one she was ready for.
She said: “One day I can be representing an individual member, the next I could be supporting a pay campaign out and about in lots of workplaces, then I could be sitting opposite public sector employers negotiating on terms and conditions. No two days are the same.”
Tanya came to the trade union movement after successfully in applying for a part time secretary role in 2006.
She said: “I had recently moved back to South Wales after a few years living in Birmingham and was looking for part time work while I completed my formal qualifications to be a ballet teacher.
“Quickly I started to enjoy the secretarial work and wanted to find out more about what the regional organisers did.
“I was lucky to work with some great colleagues who were always willing to explain things to me and involve me in some of the wider workings of the union. I soon abandoned my teacher training and picked up more hours with UNISON.
“When UNISON created the roles of area and local organisers, I attended information sessions to learn as much as I could. I felt becoming an organiser was the right move for me because I love working with individuals and identifying ways to solve problems.”
Tanya became an area organiser in 2008 and said it was a role she truly loved.
Tanya worked on campaigns around job evaluation with school staff in Merthyr Tydfil Council and said: “We built up a great network of activists and held termly school forum meetings.
She supported new reps by providing training, mentorship and advice and said: “It was so inspiring to see individuals who had never been active in the union take on a rep role and grow in confidence to discuss issues affecting them and their colleagues.
“I took my time in deciding when I was interested in becoming a regional organiser. There were a few vacancies over the years, but the timing wasn’t quite right for me. In April 2022, I had just returned from maternity leave when a vacancy came up. Returning from maternity into a new role was a challenge, but one I was ready for.
“I work so closely with branches and develop great working relationships with senior lay activists. It is such a varied role – I get to immerse myself in so many different sectors, issues and campaigns. I really enjoy supporting branches with their governance requirements and with their strategic bargaining. Working with reps in negotiations is my favourite part of the role, like solving a puzzle.
“The regional organiser role is varied and busy and the variety keeps the role interesting.”
UNISON is now recruiting for a regional organiser in Wales.
Click here to find out more.
