New NEU Rep - any advice?

[NewNEURep]

I've just taken over the NEU rep role at my school, something I had agreed to do before the school closure in March. Obviously it is a very unusual time to be a rep, but I have quickly come to regret my decision. I feel like I am just having a string of people moaning at me and it is sending my anxiety levels through the roof, and I feel like there is no support from the 40+ members we have in school. I understand people are concerned and I have been proactive at raising concerns with the Head, but sometimes people are moaning about such trivial things that I just want to tell them to grow up and do something about it themselves. Any more experienced reps out there? Any tips? Will it get better? Or should I just step down now and join the other union?

Make it clear people need to book meeting time with you rather than stopping you in corridor to moan. It’s not professional and they can be overheard if they doing this. It will give you time to be prepared. What about have a meeting with whole group, rather than them coming to you one by one and you saying things multiple times?

Get touch with your region:

There should be training for you
Is there a time allowance to carry out theses duties?
Ask region for a list of members at your school and draw up a DL
Use the DL to communicate with members.
If someone fronts you on the corridor, nod and smile and ask them to email you.
Never ever agree to anything at all with management unless it's in writing.
Are funds attached to your sub-branch that you can use to have a pizza/wine welcome to union?
Never ever give advice to non-members.
Hold a sub-branch meeting soon to raise the profile of the union.
Check out the allowances for meetings per term on school time.

Listening to people moan is a very worthwhile part of the role! Often being heard is all they need.