NHS staff in Wales have been given another pay award that falls behind the cost of living. Many of us feel stretched, undervalued and ignored, even though the NHS could not run without us.
When NHS workers talk to each other and act together, we are much harder to ignore.
This approach is about workers talking to each other, building confidence and acting together at work. It also helps bring colleagues who are not yet in UNISON into the union.
You do not need experience, training or special knowledge.
You just need to care about pay, your job and the people you work with.
The five steps below show how to get started.
Step 1. Know your workplace
Start with the place you work.
Think about:
- Which wards, departments or teams people work in.
- Who works which shifts, including nights and weekends.
- Who usually talks to who at work.
- Who feels left out or not listened to.
You do not need lists or paperwork. You just need a clear picture of your own workplace.
Step 2. Find the people others listen to
Every NHS workplace already has people that others trust.
They might be:
- The person people ask for advice.
- The person who helps calm things down when work is stressful.
- The person others listen to, even if they are not a union rep.
They do not need to be loud or political. They just need to be trusted by their colleagues.
Step 3. Get a small group together
You do not need everyone to start.
Bring together a small group of colleagues who:
- Work in different parts of the workplace if possible.
- Do different jobs or work different shifts.
- Are willing to talk to colleagues about pay and work.
This group is not there to speak for others. Its job is to help everyone talk to each other and stay connected.
Step 4. Talk to colleagues properly
This is the most important step.
It means having real conversations, not just sending messages.
When you talk to colleagues:
- Listen first.
- Let people say what is wrong with pay and work.
- Talk about how things could change if people act together.
- At the end of the conversation, ask for one simple thing:
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- Talk to another colleague.
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- Join the WhatsApp community.
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- Come to a meeting.
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- Join UNISON if they are not already a member.
Step 5. Do something together
Doing things together builds confidence.
This could be:
- Signing something together.
- Turning up somewhere together.
- Wearing a badge or sticker together.
- Voting together when ballots arrive.
It does not need to be big. What matters is doing it together.