How union activism helped my career

Helen Lewis is a senior physiotherapist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), has worked in the profession for 28 years, and qualified as a physio 17 years ago. Alongside her clinical role, she is a workplace steward, equality rep, CSP regional steward and joint vice-chair of staff side at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. 

Helen began her CSP activism as a student rep before moving onto a workplace rep role as a newly qualified physio. ‘It felt like a natural progression to go from student rep to workplace rep,’ she said. 

Helen really enjoys her union roles, but it does come with its challenges. ‘I find casework challenging, but this drives me to work hard to ensure I am well prepared for any meetings, allowing me to remain objective and factual, facing challenges with added confidence. 

The more involved you become, the more you can see meaningful things to do, and the roles have a snowball effect because of this.’

Feeling of belonging

In 2023 Helen became the equality rep for LTHT. ‘My colleague completed a fabulous project shining a light about how our differences make us feel “less than” in the workplace. When he left the trust, I was keen to address the conclusions of this work and how changes at work can make a difference to a person’s feeling of belonging.’

Helen says that her greatest achievement as a rep isn’t her own accomplishment, but the successes made by the LTHT rep team. ‘I am so proud of them and the work that has been achieved, individually and collectively. We’ve developed an excellent working relationship with staff side, head of professional and the AHP lead, supporting partnership working.’

Continuing her union activism Helen attended the Trades Union Congress conference 2022 alongside the TUC Women’s conference 2023 as a member of the CSP delegations. TUC 2022 saw the launch of the Anti-Racism Manifesto with a keynote speech from Neville Lawrence, the father of Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racist attack in southeast London in 1993. ‘He spoke powerfully about how being a member of a trade union gave him support and amplified his voice when seeking justice for his son. This experience was the main driver in considering the equality rep role – there is still so much work to be done.’

Equitable workplace

At women’s TUC, delegates highlighted sexual abuse against women and girls. ‘These women were met with compassion and solidarity from conference delegates, but it was clear this was not how they were met within their care settings, communities and workplaces.’

Helen notes the importance to bring her union learning into the workplace, bringing national issues to a local level. She continues to work towards an equitable workplace where individuals are valued for being themselves and reports of any type of discrimination will be listened to and acted upon, not explained away by the listener’s discomfort of the situation. 

Helen is also involved with a staff group at LTHT to prevent workplace sexual harassment. 

In response to the 2023 publication on the experiences of women surgeons facing sexual harassment and the introduction of the Worker Protection Bill, the head of human resources at LTHT asked for volunteers across all professions to be involved in a steering group developing policy addressing sexual harassment at work. 

Helen believes workplace reps are ideally placed to support members facing workplace sexual harassment and presented a motion to CSP Annual Representatives Conference 2024 on this topic, with a direct ask of the CSP to provide training, due to be rolled out in 2025. ‘Training needs to reflect its complex and difficult nature and make sure reps and members are supported. It is important to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, that is where change occurs.’