Robert Saini was employed at The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research since 26 April 2021. He joined the Unite The Union and then became a health and safety shop steward, supporting and representing his fellow workers. Even though it exists on the University of Glasgow campus, Beatson is a separate entity to the University of Glasgow and thus its workers don't benefit from Unite's 'very good relationship' with the university. Rob was active in the pay and progression talks to secure fair wages and safer working conditions at the Institute.

Little did he know that the union will stab him in the back.

Unite the Union is one of the largest trade unions in the UK and Ireland, second only to Unison. As suggested by it's name, it is the result of many other unions merging with each other, some dating back to 1922 and earlier. Theoretically, merging these unions provide the workers more power when fighting against the bosses. But as these unions get bigger and bigger, more power is held in the hands of union employees. Those at the top of union hierarchy have more and more begun to resemble the very same bosses that we fight against in our workplaces, as Robert Saini found out the hard way.

Trade unions are well known for the protections that they are to provide to workers, especially those who are marginalised. Critiques of the status quo being reproduced within service unions has created "equalities committees" and the like to address this issue, but often this does little to address white supremacy culture by siloing these conversations off from the rest of the union. On the surface, it seems like this is working. But within these same unions we hear stories of misconduct and discrimination. We hear stories of how these mainstream service unions continue to fail the marginalised. Yet, with no official reports or news stories it must just be rumours, right?

In May 2022, Robert Saini had a second occurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax. He was put on extended sick leave, underwent pleurectomy (surgical removal of the sack around the lungs) and had been experiencing chronic nerve pain as a result. This exacerbated his pre-existing depression and grief from a series of past bereavements. 

As of 12 October 2023, Rob was subjected to disciplinary procedures which both he and his spouse believe to be part of a larger bullying and harassment campaign, targeting him for his trade union membership and his various disabilities.

Following this, he naturally reached out to a senior member of the union, Regional Officer Alison MacLean. MacLean was informed of Rob's history and the details of his case. However MacLean did not read his supporting evidence nor the evidence submitted by the employer,. Worse, MacLean sided with his employers against her own trade union member adding to his distress and abandonment. Rob spent 30 long minutes on the afternoon of 16th November 2023 convincing his own trade union rep of avenues of defence that she repeatedly dismissed. Instead, MacLean suggested that Rob "fall on [his] sword" and apologise for something he did not do. MacLean gaslit Rob about the harassment he was experiencing, saying it was "harsh" to name it that despite Rob's growing distress with the horrifying situation.

Despite being an experienced trade rep, MacLean failed to prevent Rob losing his job. This is not because of Rob having a hopeless case, in fact he and his hardworking wife pointed out several ways of countering the bullying and harassment Rob was being subjected to including several inconsistencies with the employer's stories reflected in their evidence.

On 5th of December 2023, Rob's wife (who had also experienced discrimination from Unite in the past) submitted a formal complaint against MacLean noting reasonable belief that MacLean has failed to provide Rob with quality services within the rules and guidance laid down by the Executive Council, failed to ensure good practice as per the Trades Union Congress’ Workplace Manual, failed to honour the duty of fair representation, and most recently has decided to enact reprisals against Rob leading to feelings of victimisation and resulting in unequivocal and repeated breaches of Unite Rule(s) 2.1.2., 2.1.3., 2.1.4., 2.1.6., 4.6.6., 5.1., 5.2., and 18.9. Right after the complaint was submitted, Rob's membership tier was changed to an unwaged worker without his knowledge or consent.

To date, no response to this complaint has been received aside from saying that the complaint is closed because Rob is no longer a member. MacLean continues to work for the union despite her discriminatory behaviour that the union is well aware of. Recent attempts to chase up this complaint with the Unite equalities committee and the complaints handlers resulted in no resolution and failures to address this deeply concerning behaviour.

Unite continues its performative behaviour, pretending to care about equality and discrimination. But we know that when the people in power are not held accountable for their misconduct, white supremacy culture continues to be pervasive and dominant having impacts on white people when they are disabled (or women, or queer, etc etc.), precisely because dominance views each degree of difference as less human until you're not seen as human at all. Rob has been thoroughly betrayed by the union he worked so hard for.  This has destroyed his mental health and he is jaded that at-large unions can be a force for good.

All evidence supporting his case can be found here https://drive.proton.me/urls/4FVACYQE5G#9cqUSrs3KvVv

Robert Saini continues to be a proud trade unionist. He found a union that does have his back, in the end. He still believes in the workers' struggle. The hierarchy embedded deep within the structure of Unite is our collective downfall. Allowing reps to get sloppy and complacent because of all the they have seized for themselves only hurts the struggle by abandoning our solidarity to each other in the interest of their profit. White supremacy culture values this hierarchy and seduces us to remain invested in its survival, allowing the most marginalised to be discarded without a fight ​​​​​​​or solidarity altogether. 

In the words of the Industrial Workers of the World, the working class and employing class have nothing in common. We had better start acting like it.