Cambridgeshire Constabulary UNISON has wished branch chair Mish Edwards a happy retirement, though it’s come sooner than she wished.
She’s been a trade union activist most of her working life. For the last nine years as a steward at Cambs Police.
“I am passing on the baton and retiring,” Mish explains. “Sadly, it’s seven months before I planned to because I fear the possible changes that may be made because of the Supreme Court’s ruling on biological sex.
“This ruling and the changes that may affect me as a transwoman go against everything I believe and fought against as a trade unionist and LGTB+ activist.
“I fear it will put too many restrictions on me, my workplace and all public servants that identify as trans.”
Mish’s union journey began as an apprentice mechanical and electrical engineer. Within a few months of joining Mish was appointed a steward and within the year was organising picket lines for an AUEW strike.
“As I was an apprentice and under 21, I wasn’t called to strike so I had to cross my picket line to go to work. Of course, there was nobody to supervise me, so I kidnapped the urn and tea trolley from the kitchen and did the rounds keeping the picket well-watered with hot tea.”
Mish moved to a new site with a union presence but no reps. “So I appointed myself steward and within a month had joined up every member of the team I worked with.”
After 20 years, Mish was made redundant and worked a series of jobs, ending up as an IT manager at private girls’ school. “I had just settled into this role and after nine months I was again made redundant. On this occasion I believe I was ‘let go’ just because I was a transwoman.”
Fifteen months unemployment followed, in which Mish applied for more than 150 jobs and attended north of 50 interviews without success before finally landing a role at Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
“A couple of months after joining UNISON I was approached by the departmental steward asking if I would become the branch LGBT officer (there was no + in them days).”
First up was a review of the trans policy, which Mish was forced to rewrite completely, working with an HR advisor to put her draft into ‘constabulary speak.’
“That policy even though it has been through many reviews, additions and rewrites is essentially the same policy I wrote, and I can still find bits of my initial writing in it.”
Mish has been a mainstay ever since, taking on numerous responsibilities, mentoring new colleagues and taking part in many campaigns. Outside the branch, she’s played an important role in the region’s LGBT+, disabled members and service group committees, serving a two-year stint on the national disabled members committee.
All the best for the future, Mish.
