There’s so much happening across our union at the moment that one Mystery Rep article just didn’t seem enough. So, for this edition, you’re getting two for the price of one! Grab a brew, find your favourite hat, and let’s dive in.

Hat One – Fill Your Boots!

Rep nominations will soon be opening, and with them comes an opportunity for reflection.

Whether you’ve been a rep for many years or you’ve only recently started wearing one of the many hats, ask yourself one simple question: Have I done everything I wanted to?

Perhaps the answer is yes, and if so, fantastic. But maybe you’ve thought, “I wish I’d attended that meeting,” “I should have spoken to more members,” or “I could have put myself forward for that project.”

Here’s the good news: you still can.

Being a rep isn’t about being perfect. It’s about caring enough to keep showing up, learning, and making a difference. If you’ve enjoyed the role, reapply. If you’ve wanted to do more, say so. If there’s an area you’d like to get involved in, don’t wait for someone else to ask.

Sometimes the biggest step isn’t taking on another hat, it’s simply putting your hand up.

So, as nominations open, don’t stand on the sidelines wondering what might have been.

Fill your boots. (or your hat!)

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Hat Two – Helping Members Through Change

Change can be exciting, but it can also be unsettling. For our colleagues with the transfer of staff from TSB into Santander, there will naturally be questions, uncertainty and, for some, anxiety.

As reps, we don’t need to have every answer.

What we can do is be present, be practical and be honest.

Listen before you speak. If you know the answer, share it clearly. If you don’t, say so and then help find it. Sometimes the greatest reassurance isn’t having all the information; it’s knowing someone is alongside you while you work through it together.
Every member’s circumstances and concerns will be different. A calm conversation, a listening ear and signposting someone to the right information can make a real difference.

Our role isn’t to remove uncertainty overnight. It’s to ensure members never feel they have to face it alone.

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Whatever hat you’re wearing today, remember this: our members need good representatives now more than ever.

So, when nominations open, ask yourself one final question:

Are you willing to be that voice?

If the answer is yes, we’d love to see you put your name forward. (Into the Hat! I really can not help myself.)