UNISON Rule Book 2002

Contents

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E   Principal Officers 

1.  President

2.  Vice–Presidents

3.  General Secretary

4.  Deputy General Secretary 

1.  PRESIDENT

1.1  There shall be a President of the Union, who shall be the Senior Honorary Official of the Union.

1.2  The President shall be elected for a term of one year by the National Executive Council, from amongst the members of the National Executive Council. 

1.3  The President will chair meetings of the National Executive Council, and will preside over the National Delegate Conference of the Union.

2.  VICE-PRESIDENTS

2.1   There shall be two Vice-Presidents, who shall be Honorary Officials of the Union.

2.2   The Vice-Presidents will hold office for one year, and will be elected by the National Executive Council, from amongst the members of the National Executive Council.

2.3   In the absence of the President, the Vice-Presidents will in rotation (one day at a time) chair the National Executive Council or National Delegate Conference, as the need arises.

2.4   The National Executive Council shall elect the President and Vice-Presidents at the same time provided that two of the three shall be women.

3.  GENERAL SECRETARY

There shall be a General Secretary of the Union who shall be the principal officer of the Union.

3.1  The General Secretary shall have the right to attend and speak at Conferences of the Union, meetings of the National Executive Council and meetings of national Service Group Executives. The General Secretary shall have duties, rights, powers and responsibilities commensurate with the post of principal officer, as approved by the National Executive Council. The General Secretary shall act under the direction of the National Executive Council.

3.2  The General Secretary shall be elected and shall hold office for the maximum period of time prescribed by law. Any candidate for the post of General Secretary must either have been a member of the Union or one of the predecessor Unions for at least five years, or have been employed by the Union or one of the predecessor Unions for at least five years immediately preceding her/his candidature, and be nominated by the National Executive Council, or by at least two national Service Group Executives, or by at least two Regional Councils, or by at least 25 branches.

3.3  The ballot for the post of General Secretary shall be a secret postal ballot of the membership, which shall include retired members, conducted by a Returning Officer independent of the Union. The electoral rules in Rule D.6 and Schedule C shall apply to such elections.

4.  DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY

4.1  There shall be a Deputy General Secretary of the Union who shall be appointed by the National Executive Council. 

4.2  She/he shall be the senior paid official of the Union beneath the General Secretary and shall be responsible directly to the General Secretary for the exercise of her/his powers and duties.

4.3  She/he shall deputise for the General Secretary on her/his instructions or in the absence or unavailability of the General Secretary.