Monday, February 01, 2016
This year, AMAPCEO bids a fond farewell to retiring activist Barbara Gough, who recently stepped down from her position as Secretary on the Board of Directors. As a member of the Education/Training, Colleges and Universities Chapter, Barbara has been an active and dedicated member of AMAPCEO for over a decade in various roles, including as a Workplace Representative, AMERC Co-Chair and member, and Health and Safety Committee Co-Chair and member. Barbara served as Chapter Chair of EDU/TCU for a year before being elected as a Board member in 2007 and, shortly after, Secretary, a position that she held for six years.
When asked about what first motivated her to volunteer her time, Barbara says she was compelled to become a Workplace Rep after witnessing ongoing workplace bullying. “I quickly realized that you play a really important function in people’s lives as a Workplace Rep because you help them with issues, [many of which] aren’t caused by the member.”
Her increased interest in the governance of the organization, she notes, was mostly fuelled by a sense of personal responsibility. “I felt that it was my turn and that I had a lot to contribute. The skills I had as a Policy Advisor were applicable to the Board. I got in and I saw that I was actually making more of a difference to my Association than I was making at work.”
Over the course of her career, many of the skills, experience and training that Barbara gained as an AMAPCEO activist transferred well to her work in stakeholder relations, and vice versa. “Thirteen years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to get up and Chair a session at the ADC, but the skills were really quite transferable.”
When asked how union involvement has affected her in the workplace, Barbara admits that her commitments to AMAPCEO certainly pulled her away from projects at work, but “all along I’ve had fabulous co-workers and very understanding managers. A lot of my managers had come out of AMAPCEO positions and knew that … having a strong union helps them have a happier workforce and makes their job easier.”
Barbara’s message to other members is that volunteering in AMAPCEO “has been the most fun I’ve ever had. It’s given me a bit more confidence and a bit more ability to go out and speak to people.” While everyone may not have the time to be a Board member or chair a committee, “I’d say that if you’ve got the time… there are roles for everybody to play.”
We appreciate the many late nights and extra hours that Barbara, and all of our activists, have dedicated to building AMAPCEO. Our union is as strong as its members—and we encourage everyone to get involved. Learn more at amapceo.on.ca/get-involved.