New Branch Young Person’s Officer Elected

Ori Selkirk was elected as UNISON Brighton & Hove’s Young Person’s Officer. He sat down to speak to our newsletter about his background:

How long have you been a member of UNISON? About 6 months! before that I was in UNITE.

Why did you become involved? We’re all exploited by the same system, all workers are connected- I realised that at 19 and have been passionate about workers rights since then.

How much of your time do you spend on UNISON activities? I’m very pleased to be able to use my working hours for UNISON activities- a few hours per working day.

Do you feel supported by the branch? Do you know who to go to if you have a difficult case/need more support? I do, Linda and Matt have been lovely supporting me, and there’s plenty of guidance. I’m looking forward to reaching out young members and passing on guidance.

What’s the best thing about being a union rep? Organising the workplace becomes part of my job, and it’s activity that’s protected by law!

What would you say to someone who is thinking about becoming more involved? You won’t regret, it’s very empowering- there is plenty of support.