Thinking of becoming a rep with unison in the nhs
Anyone got any advice or tips?

Good luck with it and be prepared for some hard graft! I have been on a picket line but never a rep, It"s a thankless task, although I imagine as the NHS don"t strike, you don"t have much ammunition except great negotiation skills.

I was a union rep back in the late 1980's for the CPSA - the civil service unoin as it was then.
I led strikes in the Sutton and Steatham DHSS local offices in protest against the Thatcher cuts and look back on it fondly.
Unions are there to represent workers, not management. Rememeber that.
Management are there to maximise profit / productivity.
The balance is rarely found.
You should do it.

Following Palace since 25 Feb 1978

The ideal union leader should model themseleves on Bob Crow. A fantastic union leader who kenew what his job was and told them all to go f*** themselves and never sold out.

Following Palace since 25 Feb 1978

Union rep in the workplace can be a thankless task. It's important to have a coherent understanding between colleagues of the purpose of the Union. Problems I encountered:

1. Lack of interest from colleagues during stable workplace conditions.
2. Members raising personal issues, which would be better dealt with via other routes. Unions are not there to sort marital problems or your childcare.
3. Workers only wanting to join the Union when it becomes clear there are changes to the workplace a-coming.

I disengage, I turn the page.

Work for the people you represent, not for the company or the political ambitions of the union bosses.