New to the NEC: Rebecca Cummings

Rebecca Cummings, one eight new members of the National Executive Committee, introduces herself to the wider membership

Tell us about your day job

I work as a site outage coordinator at Sellafield. With all the interactions and production that plants handle they need to have downtime to allow for repairs, maintenance, projects other statutory requirements to be carried out – this is where I come in.

I work within a specific area of site and coordinate this work, looking at the bigger picture of the whole site from preparation to delivery to post outage feedback – then start to repeat the process again for the next year.

How long have you been in Prospect and why was it important for you to join a trade union?

Ever since I started working at Sellafield 11 years ago I have been in Prospect, the only reason I joined was because I was asked to.

Since then I have learnt about the role that Prospect play within Sellafield and think it is important that people are part of the union to have that show of strength in numbers and to protect and guide us all through the massive changes which are coming for our company.

What’s your proudest moment so far as a Prospect member or rep?

This! Being elected to the NEC, I think its fantastic people actually took the time to read what I had to say and vote for me.

But then there are so many others; when I stood up for Prospect at the TUC Womens conference to speak; when I actually made a change to someone’s situation at work in a case; or when I have encouraged ‘young’ members both at our own YPN events and nationally at the TUC Young Workers Forum.

How has Prospect been of benefit to you in your career and professional development?

My confidence has improved but having this confidence also means I am capable of communicating my opinions. I’ve learnt that there is always a positive way to talk about an experience. I have never thought that being a representative was a bad thing.

Why did you decide to stand for the NEC?

The NEC is there to ensure all members are looked after, and for that all members need some sort of representation, and so I wanted to represent the working parents, the young (I was young not so long ago), the females, the STEM members and everyone else as well.

What are of some of the workplace issues that you hope to make a difference on as part of the NEC?

We cover so many professions within Prospect that have some many different issues. I want to help make a difference in all of them or make a difference, which will affect all members. I am specifically interested in equalities and the inequalities that exist in everyone’s workplaces, known or unknown.

As a member of the NEC, how will you approach some of the difficult decisions that might pit the interests of close colleagues in your own sector against the greater good of the whole union?

I am very proud of Sellafield Prospect Branch and what it has achieved and continues to do, but I also know I was voted onto the NEC by members across the Prospect membership and I am there to help/support/make decisions on their behalf too.

What’s your message to a colleague who is perhaps reluctant to join a union?

You wouldn’t get a mortgage for a house and not get house insurance, why wouldn’t you join a union when you have job? Both are there to help protect you when you need it and, of course, there are all of the other benefits that come along with it too!

What are the best and worst things about attending Prospect National Conference?

Best? The unknown is always an exciting time – this is my first Prospect Conference, but meeting up with people from the various sectors, branches and areas of the UK is always great on courses, so this will be even better.

Worst? Leaving my family – it is hard but having modern technology I get to see and talk to them which makes it a bit easier.

Tell us something about yourself that maybe even some of your colleagues wouldn’t know…

I ran the London Marathon in 2017- never again!

I have an allotment with 6 chickens all named: Bertha, Penny, Chick-Chick (my 2 year named this one), Dominique, Willamina, Mikala!

My middle name is Anneka, after Anneka Rice.