BRANCH STRUCTURE
The Branch's democratic structure includes committees to deal with specific matters. These are all accountable to the Branch Committee. Details of the committees can be found by clicking on the appropriate link.
- Branch Committee
- Service Conditions Committee
- Finance & Administration Committee
- Communications & Recruitment Committee
- Health & Safety Committee
- Labour Link (Affiliated Political Fund) Committee
- Equality Committee
- Self Organised Groups
- Retired Members
- Young Members
BRANCH COMMITTEE
The Branch Committee is the main decision making forum for the whole Branch, in between Annual/Special General Meetings of all members.
It considers and ratifies proposals from its various sub-committees and makes decisions which cut across branch boundaries such as election of branch delegates to conferences.
The Branch subcommittees consider particular issues; their minutes and recommendations are fed into the Branch Committee.
All Stewards are encouraged to attend. All meetings run from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SERVICE CONDITIONS COMMITTEE
Convened by the Branch Service Conditions Officers
Membership:
- Branch Service Conditions Officers
- Branch Chair
- Branch Secretary
- Assistant Branch Secretary
- Branch Vice Chair
- Branch Equality Officer
- Two reps elected by each Stewards' Committee
- Any Branch rep on the County Council Corporate Joint Forum not otherwise entitled to attend
- Branch Organiser
- Branch Administration Manager
Function:
- To oversee and co-ordinate all matters relating to the pay and conditions of members
- To ensure that all Central and Departmental negotiations conform with Branch policy
- To make recommendations to the Branch Committee on such matters as pay campaigns and Industrial Action
- To receive reports from Stewards' Committees and Central negotiating forums
FINANCE & ADMIN COMMITTEE
Convened by the Branch Treasurer
Membership
- Branch Treasurer
- Assistant Branch Treasurer
- Branch Secretary
- Assistant Branch Secretary
- Branch Chair
- Branch Vice-Chair
- Welfare Officers
- Branch Organiser
- Branch Administration Manager
Function
- To plan and manage Branch Finances
- To plan and manage Branch staffing and equipment requirements
- To make recommendations to the Branch Committee on affiliations, donations, and subscriptions
- To consider and make recommendations to the Branch Committee on any matters not the responsibility of other sub-committees
COMMUNICATIONS & RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE
Convened by the Branch Communications Officer
Membership:
- Branch Communications Officer
- Branch Chair
- Branch Secretary
- One representative elected by each Stewards' Committee
- Branch Equality Officer
- Branch H&S Officers
- Branch Organiser
- Branch Administration Manager
Function:
- To develop and oversee a Branch Recruitment and Retention strategy
- To produce a regular newsletter for members and encourage production of Departmental newsletters
- To assist in the promotion of democracy within the Branch e.g. to encourage attendance at meetings etc
- To publicise UNISON's local and national activities
HEALTH & SAFETY COMMITTEE
Convened by the Branch Health & Safety Officers
Membership:
- Branch Health & Safety Officers
- Branch Chair
- Branch Secretary
- Health & Safety reps as co-opted
- Two representatives elected by each Stewards' Committee
- Branch Organiser
- Branch Administration Manager
Function:
- To oversee all Health & Safety work and training within the branch
- To review the way in which H&S issues are treated by all employers with whom the Branch is involved
- To recruit and support H&S Reps in all workplaces used by Branch members
- To recommend Branch Reps to sit on the County Council Central H&S Panel to the Branch Committee
AFFILIATED POLITICAL FUND (APF) COMMITTEE
Convened by the Branch APF Officer
Membership:
- All members affiliated to the APF
Function:
- To review local and national Labour Party activity and make representations as appear to necessary, in line with Branch policy
- To oversee Branch activity in relation to local Labour Party Branches and structures
- To report to the Branch Committee on its activities
Click here for link to the Labour Party web site
EQUALITY COMMITTEE
Convened by the Branch Equality Officer
Membership:
- Branch Equality Officer
- Four members elected by each of the Self Organised Groups
- Branch Chair
- Branch Secretary
- one representative elected by each Stewards' Committee
- Branch Organiser
- Branch Administration Manager
- other Branch members as co-opted
Function:
- To oversee all equality work within the branch and to make such recommendations to the Branch Committee as are necessary to ensure that all members are treated fairly and able to contribute to Branch activities
- To review the way in which equality issues are treated by all employers with whom the Branch is involved
- To oversee and support the operation of the Self Organised Groups (SOGs) within the Branch
- To recommend delegates to SOG Conferences to the Branch Committee
- To recommend Branch representatives to sit on County Council Equal Opportunities Development Panel to the Branch Committee
SELF ORGANISED GROUPS
One of UNISON's founding principles is fair representation. This means that UNISON is committed to ensuring that the union's elected representatives reflect the make up of the union's membership in terms of race, gender, sexuality, disability, and type of work.
One of the main stepping stones to achieving this Self Organisation. There are four Self Organised Groups (SOGs), for black members, members with disabilities, women members, and for lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT) members.
The purpose of Self Organisation is to enable members within these groups to:
- meet to share concerns and aspirations, and establish their own priorities
- elect their own representatives to other levels of Self Organisation and to other appropriate levels of UNISON's organisation
- work within a flexible structure to build confidence and encourage participation, and provide opportunities for the fuller involvement of disadvantaged members.
Each SOG has their own section on this web site. For details of their Officers, meetings, current campaigns, etc please click on the appropriate link below:
- Black members
- Members with disabilities
- Women members
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender members
The work of the Self Organised Groups is coordinated by the Branch Equalities Officer. Our current Officers are Siobhan Ford and Selwyn Seymour. You can contact them via the Branch Office on 0115 981 0405