 Blood joined the Transport and General Worker's Union very soon after starting at the mill and would go on to deal with health and safety issues, such as long working hours, as well as wages.She remained at the mill until it closed in 1989 and during this time Blood became the shop steward and was elected to the regional committee of the Transport and General Worker's Union.In 1989, Blood became a community worker on a project for long-term unemployed men.