Support fellow members: learn how to be a lay rep

Perhaps the most important role you can take on as a Nautilus International member is that of voluntary or elected lay rep/liaison officer – helping fellow members in the workplace. Nautilus has recently put in place a new online training programme to help lay reps in their roles. Glenn Cairns, a former lay rep at Carnival UK and strategic organiser who helped to create the training, explains the programme to Rob Coston

ROB COSTON (RC): What is a lay rep?

GLENN CAIRNS (GC): A lay rep is a member – someone who is still a serving seafarer – who helps the Union's strategic organisers with many things that they deal with in the workplace, from assisting with pay talks to low-level disciplinaries.

There are only a few strategic organisers, so it's vital that there are lay reps who have a passion for getting involved to help their fellow seafarers if they're in trouble, or just advise them on sickness policy, maternity leave, all those sorts of issues. Because you're in the workplace, doing the job, you sometimes have a better understanding of the issues or of company changes to policies.

They get involved at all levels – as much as the training allows, of course, which is why they need to be trained!

RC: What did you do in your own lay rep role?

GC: In my particular case, I joined Nautilus as soon as I went to sea in 2009 and fortunately, I was allowed the time by my employers to participate in the Union's work. I was involved in the setup of the Partnership at Work arrangement at Carnival UK, and became a trained lay rep after doing a week-long course.

Before going to sea, I was a police officer for 32 years so I was used to dealing with evidence, and I went on to deal with disciplinaries and appeals in the workplace. After I stopped going to sea, I was fortunate enough to get a job as a strategic organiser at Nautilus where I've helped to create training for lay reps like me.

RC: I understand it can be quite a complicated role, dealing with a broad range of issues, which is where the training comes in?

GC: Absolutely. A seafarer wouldn't be expected to start working on the bridge or in the engine control room without any training. As lay rep, you're also going to need some basic training too. It's to make sure we're covering and supporting you, and that you understand what you can and can't do in the role.

That's why Nautilus, with the help of the TUC education department, has put together this e-learning package. It's 100% online, and the way we've structured it means you can complete it in small parts and dip in and out to fit in with your work. I think the fastest person so far has completed it in 48 hours, while someone else has taken about five weeks – there's no rush to get it done. It's all free, of course.

The training seeks to give you a sound understanding of things like disciplinary procedures, appeals, negotiation tactics, what to do in meetings, what advice to give, and how to encourage people to join, and also to enhance the skills of those who have done work like this previously.

When you finish the course, you get a recognised trade union qualification which is useful for the individual, particularly when they're dealing with management.

RC: Does every lay rep need to take the training?

GC: The training is mandatory for anybody starting from 2025, and for existing lay reps when it's time for them to renew.

Those with lots of experience will probably complete the training a lot quicker, but every day is a school day, and there's something in there for everybody, trust me!

Nautilus will be in touch with you when it's time to take the training. As this is an approved training package, an appointed lay rep is entitled to ask their management for time to complete it.

RC: Once people have been through the training, what further support do they get in the role from Nautilus?

GC: As most members know, each company has a Nautilus strategic organiser allocated to oversee it, and the lay reps can pick up the phone to them any time for help or advice. They're also welcome to come to me if they're looking for further training.

RC: If somebody is thinking that they'd like to find out more about becoming a lay rep, what should they do?

GC: If Nautilus has a collective bargaining agreement with their company, there are elections every so often for the lay rep in their workplace which are announced in email Bulletins. They can also speak to their strategic organiser in the workplace and ask them if there's any vacancies.

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Find out more about being a lay rep at Nautilus International