Tick off your facilities checklist, from understanding your rights to making the most of opportunities – and read a case study from a CSP rep.
Checklist for reps
- Ensure you understand your legal rights to facilities time.
- Regularly communicate with management and members.
- Keep records of all union-related activities.
- Regularly review and negotiate your facilities agreement.
- Attend and make the most of available training opportunities.
Facilities time case study: Sarah, CSP rep
'When our hospital began restructuring, it was clear we had to step up and make sure our team's concerns were heard. As a union rep, I used our facilities time to rally everyone, listen to their issues and figure out a plan. Thankfully, we had a decent spot with all the necessary tech for these meetings, all thanks to our solid facilities agreement.
'Getting the management to reconsider our shift patterns was a bit of a battle. They were pretty set in their ways, so I gathered all sorts of evidence and real feedback from our team to demonstrate just how crucial these changes were. After some hefty discussions, we managed to kick off a trial with more flexible shifts, and the difference it made to stress levels and overall morale was immediately noticeable.
With effective use of facilities time, you can bring about real change.
'I also got a weekly newsletter and a digital board going to keep everyone clued up. It was important that everyone was kept in the loop and felt involved, especially with all the uncertainty floating around.
'Seeing the positive changes from these efforts, it really hit home why I took on the rep role, despite the challenges. If you’re feeling worn down and wondering if you can really make a difference, trust me, with a focused approach and effective use of your facilities time, you absolutely can bring about real change. Now more than ever, we've got to keep pushing for what’s right in our workplaces.'