UNISON Eastern’s Sam Hemraj and Kelvin Imoloame proudly represented the region in Downing Street this month.
The pair were among 200 public service workers invited to No 10 so Prime Minister Kier Starmer could pay his tributes to the work they and their colleagues do.
Kelvin, a support worker in social care and the vice-chair of UNISON’s national social care committee, was one of half a dozen public servants invited to speak to the PM personally before joining the rest of the do.
“I talked to him about working in social care and he said it was a big sector. He asked me what public service means to me, and I said public service means giving back to the community, putting others first, making a difference in people’s lives, especially in our sector in social care working with vulnerable adults and serving others not for recognition.”
Kelvin added: “It was very significant, lovely and beautiful. The ordinary people in the community who make our public services function got a chance to meet the PM in one of the most significant places of power and I hope I was able to put the thoughts of social care in his mind.
“It was also very much significant for me as well as a migrant worker having the opportunity to make this contribution to our public services and wider social care sector.”
Sam, a healthcare assistant and member of the union’s national executive committee, didn’t get a private chat with the PM, but did get to press the flesh with the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, Larry the cat.
Sam said: “It was an honour to be invited to No 10, representing millions of public-sector workers, to see just how much our service means to Kier Starmer and the Labour government.
“We heard about his commitment to the NHS, fire service, police, social care and so many other vital public services that keep the country going.”