{"id":28667,"date":"2021-04-28T15:27:02","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T14:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=28667"},"modified":"2021-04-28T15:27:03","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T14:27:03","slug":"dont-underestimate-our-sarah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=28667","title":{"rendered":"Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t underestimate our Sarah"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Scotland \u00e2\u20ac\u201c now Wales. Sarah Murphy knows well the power of being in a union and how together with Labour, lives can be changed for the better. Hajera Blagg<\/strong> reports<\/p>\n

For Unite member Sarah Murphy<\/strong>, who is standing as a Welsh Labour candidate for the Bridgend constituency at the Senedd election, hard work and trade unionism are in her blood.<\/p>\n

Her uncles and grandfather worked at the Port Talbot steelworks, and both her mother, a social worker, and her late father, a teacher and shop steward, were ardent trade unionists.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve definitely grown up in that environment where working hard and giving back to your community through public service were valued. I grew up in the labour movement \u00e2\u20ac\u201c my parents were both in the Labour Party, and my dad was a community councillor growing up,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Sarah told UNITElive. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThey both said to me when you start working you have to join a trade union.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

Sarah joined Unite when she was just 21 in one of her first jobs as an administrator in the Welsh Labour office in Cardiff, and over the years her sense of a trade union\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s value has evolved.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAt the beginning I saw trade union membership as protection \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the idea that someone has your back in the workplace, which in itself is very valuable,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Sarah explained.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bBut over the years as I became more immersed in Unite and the trade union movement \u00e2\u20ac\u201c through for example going to the Unite training school in Durham \u00e2\u20ac\u201c I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve come to realise you join the union for so much more than that. You meet new people, you make friends, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s this real sense of togetherness, of solidarity.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

Over the last decade, Sarah has worked in various roles for Welsh Labour, in Parliament, in the Senedd and now as a university researcher in data, ethics and justice. Currently, she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s working closely with Unite and other trade unions researching workplace surveillance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sarah said she was inspired to stand as a candidate back in 2018, when she was on her way to a trade union hustings for the next Welsh Labour leader.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe hustings was in Wrexham and I remember I had to get up really early to get the 5 am train. And on the train up there, I just had this epiphany. I think many people do this \u00e2\u20ac\u201c women in particular \u00e2\u20ac\u201c where you go through all the reasons in your head why you would never do it. You have a voice in your head saying what about this and what about that.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

Sarah had attended the hustings in support of Mark Drakeford, now leader of the Welsh Labour Party and the First Minister of Wales.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIn the face of a wide range of questions, Mark was unflinchingly honest and transparent, and comfortable with being himself,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Sarah said, recounting the hustings. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt inspired me to feel that I was good enough, and I just had to be true to myself and my values, and not worry about trying to please everyone.<\/p>\n

After the hustings, any doubt she had about \u00e2\u20ac\u0098going for it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 melted away. With the vital encouragement of mentor Mary Williams, Unite\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s head of political strategy in Wales, within a year Sarah was selected as the Welsh Labour Senedd candidate for the Bridgend constituency in October 2019.<\/p>\n

Two months later, the Conservatives would win a landslide victory in the general election. In the months weeks and months after, Sarah recalled a deep sense of defeat.<\/p>\n

Hope <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But even in the midst of this devastating defeat, there was hope.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThere was a lot of negativity surrounding Labour at the time and how we were being portrayed was so inaccurate \u00e2\u20ac\u201c it was really frustrating. But then I thought to myself, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m just going to get back to doing what I do well and what we do well \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just being a force for good. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to show people that we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve always been here and always been a force for good.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

And \u00e2\u20ac\u0098a force for good\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 was precisely what communities up and down the country needed as the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March, followed by the UK\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s first national lockdown.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOver that weekend before the lockdown restrictions came in people panicked. You saw people desperately trying to find necessities like baby formula and nappies. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what inspired me to set up the Bridgend Coronavirus Support Group on Facebook. Within a half a day we had 3,000 members.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

Over the next several months, the group, which has now grown to 12,000 members strong, would successfully go on to raise money for various food banks and other local organisations, while helping connect individuals with necessities and any support they needed.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bFrom the very beginning we kept the page positive and also apolitical. It was all about supporting each other. We had this idea if everyone in the group, which at that point had grown to more than 8,000 members, could donate \u00c2\u01411 each, then we could raise a large sum of money and in doing so we demonstrated socialism in action. A little adds up to a lot when we come together.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Through the Facebook group, Sarah helped facilitate a large donation of protective visors from workers at the Ford factory in Bridgend, which was then in the process of closing.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bUnite Ford Bridgend convenor Andrew Pearson got in touch with us saying in the last few months as they were closing down the plant, the workers there had made 8,000 visors and they wanted to donate them to the community to anyone who wanted them,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Sarah explained.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI met the workers and we filled up our car boot with visors and delivered them on the workers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 behalf across the community. This was at a time when there was a severe PPE shortage so it was vital donation and I was so pleased to help facilitate that.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

\"\"

Sarah and the Unite Ford Bridgend team<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Only 34 years old, Sarah says it hasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t always been easy on the campaign trail as a young woman, but she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s learned to embrace the challenges.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bMy opponent in particular has tried to portray me as being inexperienced \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the word \u00e2\u20ac\u0098novice\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 gets thrown around a lot,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bBut my mum says \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and of course I know she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just being my mum \u00e2\u20ac\u201c\u00e2\u20ac\u0098people often underestimate you, and there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s always a moment that people realise they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve underestimated you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t say this to be arrogant \u00e2\u20ac\u201c I feel this can apply to a lot of young people and young women in particular. People underestimate you at their peril. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve come to embrace that as a strength.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

Standing as a Unite candidate, Sarah hopes to join a strong group of Unite MSs in the Senedd this year and bolster this group that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s dedicated to fighting for working people.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Workers first\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOur first port of call will always be to the workers, to find out what is really happening on the ground \u00e2\u20ac\u201c that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the approach I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be taking with all workplaces if elected,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Sarah said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bI will build that sense of mutual respect to where they feel that they can get in touch with me, they can call me whenever they need me. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m never going to go into a workplace and tell people what they should be doing; you tell me how I can help you.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

Sarah urges Unite members in Wales to vote for Welsh Labour in the upcoming elections to continue to build on the good work that the party in government has already done. She cites the Trade Union (Wales) Act 2017, which protects trade union members in Wales from the anti-union attacks by the Tory government in Westminster.<\/p>\n

She also points to how the Welsh Labour government has committed to protecting its own Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF), at a time when the Tory government has only just recently scrapped the Union Learning Fund (ULF) in England.<\/p>\n

And although it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been delayed because of the pandemic, the Social Partnership Bill is another vital piece of legislation introduced by Welsh Labour, which will hugely benefit trade union members and give them a stronger voice.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe only chance of the Social Partnership Bill becoming law is if we elect a Welsh Labour government. We are a strong, dedicated group of Welsh Labour MSs, trade unionists, who if elected will absolutely work our guts out for Unite members and for Labour members.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

GET INVOLVED<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you live in Bridgend and Porthcawl and want to help Sarah you can find out more about\u00c2\u00a0her campaign\u00c2\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 To help out generally in your region contact the\u00c2\u00a0Unite Wales regional office\u00c2\u00a0<\/a>and ask to speak to the regional political officer.<\/p>\n

Wherever you live if would like to help Unite candidates in your area or to find out more\u00c2\u00a0see here<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

By Hajera Blagg<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Stayed tuned to UNITElive for the latest on our Unite candidates<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For Unite member Sarah Murphy, who is standing as a Welsh Labour candidate for the Bridgend constituency at the Senedd election, hard work and trade unionism are in her blood<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28678,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1621],"tags":[1608,210,53],"wps_subtitle":"Standing in Bridgend for Labour in the Welsh Senedd elections, researcher Sarah Murphy is determined to put workers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 interests first","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28667"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28667"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28692,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28667\/revisions\/28692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}