Public Servants Serving Our Society: Oliver Williams

Oliver Williams writes about his work at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), how being a Prospect rep has helped his career and winning an Organising Award for case handling.

Oliver Williams

I began working at Cefas 16 years ago by scrubbing fish tanks and looking after our aquarium facilities. I then spent eight years in our laboratories, counting plankton through a microscope to monitor the health of environment and protect human health by looking for toxic algae in waters near shellfish harvesting areas. I was also employed on our research vessel where we would do things like catching fish to measure them, checking on the status of fish stocks and the health of the seas.

All that data collection for Cefas led me into my current role of data governance, which I have been doing for the past eight years. My current job is to help other scientists in Cefas manage their data efficiently, accurately and effectively. With my team, I am also responsible for making sure that the collected data, which is paid for by taxpayers, is published openly to our data portal so anyone else can access and use it.

Joining Prospect

I joined Prospect on my first day at Cefas in 2007.

Both my parents were formerly trade union reps and had brought me up to understand the importance of trade unionism. So, I sought out a union rep on my first day and became a member. My manager, a long-time member of Prospect, was keen for our team at the plankton lab to have a rep and to have that connection with union activities, so he actively encouraged me to become a rep – which happened one month later.

Certainly, within Cefas I’ve never experienced any hint of being hindered in my career by being a Prospect rep. Quite the opposite. I would say first and foremost becoming a rep has increased my general confidence inside and outside the workplace. It has given me experience in negotiations, in trying to find my way through difficult situations, how to speak to and, much more importantly, how to listen to people, so that you’re thinking about their best interests.

Another major benefit of being a rep is that it’s given me a lot more familiarity with how Cefas works as an organisation and how the different departments work. You become an expert in the policies and procedures of the whole organisation.

Personal Case Handling

Our chair at the time was looking for more support because one of our two case handlers had effectively stepped back from the role. It was daunting but I felt like somebody else needed to step up, which was how I started helping our members with many issues, about 14 years ago.

I have been on a few Prospect courses that have helped in normal, straightforward negotiations in terms of pay and things like that, but case handling often is a multi-sided negotiation between me, the member and management.

Over the years I think the most common situations I have supported members with are those related to absence management. Cefas’ policies and procedures have in the past been quite strict in terms of trigger points and issuing formal warning letters for staff absences. When people reach trigger points and are invited to formal meetings, that’s when people typically ask for representation.

Often it is with people who have a series of short-term conditions or a long-term, serious condition. I’m helping them through the process, explaining what the options are and telling them what to expect in those meetings. In recent years more focus has been placed on making adjustments to help with attendance, and I have supported members in making suggestions to management, which can help in some circumstances.

The other most common cases would be disciplinary matters, be they raising a concern against someone, or a concern has been raised against them. My role in these instances is to advise on what process will be followed and how meetings will be run and generally be present to offer support.

Receiving the Prospect Organising Award

I was surprised when I heard about winning the Organising Award for case handling and, in a way, a little bit sad because when it comes to people who are ill, or who have a long-term condition, it’s actually very rare to have an outright ‘win’. Usually, the end result is that hours are reduced and their pay is cut or, in some cases, they end up losing their job.

So, I did think, “Well, I’ve not really won anything here.”

But I spoke to a member that I’m supporting now who has a long-term condition and is in a very serious situation. I told them about the award and they did say that they were really happy about it because they said they would have been completely lost without me. That’s changed my mind a little about the award.

I think the most important message for other reps doing case handling is that the outcomes are not often directly within your control. The most important thing is to just support and help members as much as you can. If you do that, then you’ve done your job.

Final thoughts

For all the rewards, there’s no doubt that being a rep can be time-consuming. It can be tough. But I’ve always been blessed with managers who are very understanding about the pressures of my union role and juggling it with my day job.

I really enjoy my day job, but the Prospect role gives me more variation in what I do at Cefas. It gives me the chance to speak to lots of different people, who I wouldn’t necessarily get to meet.

My Cefas job often involves trying to convince people to do things they don’t necessarily enjoy doing like data management and governance. The respect and relationships that I’ve built up over the years through my Prospect role really helps me persuade others to do the right thing.

Ultimately, being in Prospect benefits my work, and my managers appreciate that.