On your side

ABSTRACT

Workplace reps – stewards, health and safety, learning and MSW advocates – are the RCM's front line, supporting, advising, representing, sharing information and caring whileworking alongside members Midwife Mary Ann Gillan has been a steward for the RCM Fife Branch for five years My motivation is getting people a fair deal and advocating for them. [...]over the past two years we've had a huge issue in Fife with staff not being paid correctly for annual leave dating back to 2008 – but, working with other unions, we were able to come to an agreement for the back pay owed. With help from the regional offi cer, we were able to get them to delay implementation and go back to the beginning, work more with midwives and follow the right processes. Recently we were able to get funding from the Welsh Union Learning Fund for a training course run by the charity Birthrights focusing on facilitating a woman's right to informed choice and consent;we're currently off ering an aromatherapy course in collaboration with another Welsh RCM branch.