Building an equal workplace

Sandra McFarlane works on construction projects for Multiplex in London, and has been a Unite Equality and Diversity rep for the last four years.

Sandra is currently working on a project in St Johns Wood as an advanced chain person, working with site engineers to set up and operate surveying instruments and mark out setting points on construction sites.

Learning the skills for this job has taken time and dedication from Sandra, and she takes the role of Unite equality rep just as seriously.

Sandra attended Unite Education’s equality and diversity course, which took place over five days.

The course is essential training for Unite reps and branch officials and aims to give them the confidence and knowledge to address equality and diversity issues. It provides a comprehensive overview of equality in the workplace, and helps reps understand equality legislation and how best to support workers facing equality issues within the workplace.

Sandra said, “I found the course helped me understand the law around equalities and find the information I needed to help members at work.

“Having that bit of knowledge, or knowing where to access it, is very useful if a member asks me a question or needs support.”

As well as a deeper understanding of the law and how to recognise what constitutes discrimination, harassment and bullying, the course was very useful in highlighting how to organise around equalities issues.

And Sandra is no stranger to organising. She is often seen joining fellow reps outside construction sites handing out the sector journal, the buildingWORKER, and discussing workplace issues with fellow workers and encouraging them to join Unite.

Sandra added, “I would really encourage everyone to join the union, and seriously think about becoming a rep and sign up for one of the Unite Education courses so that they can support colleagues.”

This isn’t the end of Sandra’s Unite Education learning journey, and she is currently signed up for a Health and Safety Reps Part 1A which she hopes to start in the summer.