Alexander Wilson

I am a proactive and driven trade unionist, with a passion for workers' rights and a motivation to stand up for my membership wherever they work

I began as a committee member and then Branch chair within the POA at HMP Lindholme where the need to protect members physical and mental wellbeing in the workplace was all too apparent as we faced a drug fuelled, unstable establishment with exceptionally high levels of violence This eventually led to a legal challenge after the branch members took protective action to safeguard themselves This progressed to High Court but was settled by the employer prior to trial and gained the POA legal protections which we had not previously had regarding Health and Safety processes within the workplace

This prolonged battle showed the ability of a strong union to affect change by using current legislation correctly and highlighted the merits and need to increase my education and ability to support the membership which led to me gaining several qualifications, most recently the Occupational Health and Safety Diploma as part of a continuous process of self-development to enable me to provide the best possible service for members

I have since joined the HCSA (Hospital Doctors Union) as a National Officer and H&S lead, which has seen me develop a programme of training for activists and representatives to increase the visibility of our union and the number of proactive members and knowledgeable Health and Safety reps we have within the workplace

My role gives me sole responsibility for Yorkshire and Northeast of England, where I participate in the social partnership forums, negotiate on behalf of members with the employer, represent those members in formal processes and take the lead on recruitment initiatives for those areas

Being national lead for Health and Safety means FTO's and the Executive rely on my input and guidance when tackling the numerous issues we have faced and are facing Obviously COVID has been the most prominent issue in recent years, with the dangerous approach of downplaying the impact COVID continues to have, and the physical and mental health issues this period has caused within the NHS being significant issues that we are only beginning to understand the scale of RAAC and Asbestos are significant issue in all public buildings from that era of construction and is a developing issue But the day to day running of operations, reporting, and investigating of incidents and holding to account the relevant management structure is the key to safe and decent workplaces which we are still nowhere near making uniform nationwide The HCSA not previously having a focus on health, safety and wellbeing gave me a blank canvas but also the challenge of nothing to build upon I started out by explaining the merits of H&S legislation and the importance of using this legislation to benefit our members and increase influence and visibility in the workplace I worked with the other FTO's and the executive to alter the approach of the union to an organising model which has seen a major increase in membership activity and uptake in training with the full safety rep training due to be rolled out this year

The follow on from this work is to build a branch structure which we do not currently have, and I have formed the first branch which covers the South Yorkshire region and although at an early stage has already shown increased interest in the union and ability to mobilise and organise those members when we have been involved in the recent industrial action

I am a member of the regional TUC executive and partake in those activities and conferences as necessary, which includes me forming part of the expert panel on combatting the far right at this years conference This invite followed on from my involvement in the Anti Far Right train the trainer programme delivered by the TUC and the discussions within that I am a proactive campaigner on these issues and believe this to be the next significant challenge the trade union movement has to face

I am the HCSA representative on the Workforce Issues Group of the SPF which discusses and addresses the entire gambit of issues within the NHS alongside other unions from the sector and NHS employers at a national level

As part of my Health and Safety role I am part of the Health and Safety Working Group of staff council unions which aims to create and maintain a safe a decent workplace working in partnership with the NHS employers and also HSE