This Heart Unions Week, the SoR is encouraging members to celebrate the vital work of trade unions and workplace representatives in protecting employment rights, developing learning opportunities and improving workplace safety.
Taking place from 9 to 15 February 2026, Heart Unions Week provides a chance for union members to share why these organisations are vital for everyone at work, and encourage people who aren't yet in a union to join.
Samantha Kemp has been a Diagnostic Radiographer for just over 10 years now, having graduated in 2015. She has been a SoR industrial relations rep since 2021, and won SoR UK Rep of the Year Award at the 2025 Annual Delegates' Conference.
'It was a rollercoaster'
“Any time I hear, ‘oh, the culture’s just like that,’ I want to stop and ask, ‘why is that okay?’ I’ve never been one to accept that. It made me think, maybe becoming an industrial relations rep is the sort of thing I could get my teeth into.
“It was a rollercoaster for the first year or two, even though I wasn’t getting involved in a great deal. I was more just finding my place.
“It’s nice to have that collective of similar experiences. Everyone has different backgrounds, but being able to get advice from teams and from people who know what you know, who don’t have to have it explained to them – it’s really reassuring."
Pushing on with positive changes
“It can be intimidating when you go to the managers. I’ve sat with senior leadership and the COO for the hospital to fight my corner. At the time it was one-on-one, but I knew I had the backing of the whole department, who were keen to get their point across. It gives you the confidence to push on when there are things people feel strongly about.
“Most people [who put themselves forward for a rep role] want to push on with positive changes in their workplace. Keep that in mind when you’re attending meetings. What do you want to see happen? How could you be the driver for that change in a positive way at your workplace, rather than waiting for other people to give you the solutions?”
Find out more about Heart Unions Week online now.
Members keen to learn more about becoming a SoR rep should contact their local workplace representative or visit the online link.
(Image: Tom Welton (L) and Samantha Kemp (R) at the Annual Delegates Conference 2025)