UNISON Rule Book 2002

Contents

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G  Branches

1.  Branch Organisation

2.  Branch Committee

3.  Branch Meetings

4.  Branch Officers

4.1  General 

4.2  Branch Secretary

4.3  Branch Treasurer 

5.  Stewards 

6.  Visits by Employed Officials to Branches

1.   BRANCH ORGANISATION

1.1  Every member, excluding employees of the Union, shall be in membership of a branch established under these Rules. Disputes concerning the branch to which it is appropriate for a member to belong will be determined by the National Executive Council.

1.2  Branches will be established in accordance with a scheme approved by the National Executive Council.

2.   BRANCH COMMITTEE

2.1  Each branch shall establish a Branch Committee, which shall consist of:

.1  where appropriate, taking into account the Code of Good Branch Practice, one or more stewards for each work group as the branch meeting may approve, considering the size of the membership in that work group; and the steward or stewards shall be elected annually by the members in that work group;

.2  such representatives of self–organised groups within the branch as the branch may determine;

.3  the Branch Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Equality Officer(s) and Health and Safety Officer and other officers elected in accordance with the Union’s Rules.

2.2  The Branch Committee shall administer branch business in accordance with the branch rules and any guidelines issued by the National Executive Council, and in particular:

.1  shall co–ordinate local negotiations conducted by stewards in the branch;

.2  shall establish effective representation of members’ interests by stewards in each work group;

.3  shall maintain a record of membership showing the work group in which each member is employed;

.4  shall ensure that the branch officers are properly exercising their functions.

2.3  The Branch Committee shall meet as necessary.

2.4  Meetings of the Branch Committee shall be convened by the Branch Secretary or in her/his absence by the Branch Chairperson. 

2.5  In addition to the elected branch officers, the Branch Committee may co–opt additional members for special purposes, but such members shall not thereby have the right to vote at Branch Committee meetings.

3.   BRANCH MEETINGS

3.1  All members of the branch shall be entitled to attend branch meetings.

3.2  Branches will hold an annual meeting in the January - March quarter.  Additional meetings shall be held in line with the agreed branch rules or when summoned by the Branch Committee to discuss any matter affecting the branch.

3.3  The purposes of the branch meeting shall be to:

.1  provide a means of communication between the Branch Officers and the membership

.2  enable the membership to take decisions on matters of branch policy

.3  ensure that the Branch Officers are accountable to the membership for conducting the affairs of the branch.

3.4  At the annual meeting of the branch, the following business shall be transacted:

.1  the receiving of reports from the Branch Officers and the Branch Committee, including a report on the branch’s finances and presentation of branch accounts;

.2  the election or confirmation of election of Branch Officers for the coming year;

.3  the election or confirmation of election of branch representatives to other levels of the Union and to external bodies;

.4  such other business as may be required by the branch rules.

3.5  Meetings of the branch shall be convened by the Branch Secretary or in her/his absence by the Branch Chairperson.

3.6  Branch meetings can be requisitioned by the appropriate number of members, in accordance with the Code of Good Branch Practice. 

4.   BRANCH OFFICERS

4.1  General

4.1.1  General Branch Officers shall be the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Education Co-Ordinator, Equality Officer(s), Health & Safety Officer, Communications Officer, International Officer, Membership Officer and such other officers as approved by the Branch.

4.1.2  The Branch Officers shall be elected annually.

4.1.3  The Branch Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the branch and the branch committee and shall ensure that business is properly conducted. 

4.1.4  In the absence from a meeting of the Branch Chairperson, the members present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting.

4.1.5  Each branch office may be shared between two or more members, subject to the approval of the branch meeting.

4.2  The Branch Secretary shall:

.1  convene and attend all meetings of the branch and branch committee and shall arrange for the minutes and other branch records to be kept in a proper manner

.2  co–operate with the Union’s Head Office in keeping a record of all members’ names, addresses and work groups and in communicating any changes in these matters to the Head Office

.3  be responsible for communicating with members and with the Union’s Regional and Head Offices on behalf of the branch

.4  in conjunction with the Branch Committee, ensure that the branch observes Union rules

.5  at the end of her/his appointment (and at any other time when so required by the General Secretary) deliver to the Branch Chairperson or to such person as the General Secretary may appoint all minute books, records and other property belonging to the Union.

4.3  The Branch Treasurer shall:

.1   conduct the branch’s financial business and keep accounts in accordance with the rules

.2   at the end of her/his appointment (and at any other time when so required by the General Secretary) deliver to the Branch Chairperson or such person as the General Secretary may appoint all accounts, financial records and money belonging to the Union.

5.   STEWARDS

5.1  One or more stewards shall be elected annually for each work group or workplace by the members in that work group or workplace.

5.2  The election of each steward shall be reported to the branch for ratification and the issue of credentials.

5.3  The stewards shall:

.1  represent the interests of members in their work group or workplace in any grievance, dispute or negotiations at the level of the work group or workplace 

.2  establish and maintain Union organisation in their work group including the convening of workplace meetings

.3  where appropriate, in line with the Code of Good Branch Practice, attend meetings of the Branch Committee and of the branch membership 

.4  report to the Branch Committee all developments affecting members in their work group or workplace

.5  carry out their duties in accordance with the Union’s handbook for stewards.

6.   VISITS BY EMPLOYED OFFICIALS TO BRANCHES

6.1  An employed official of the Union may visit a branch at the request of either the branch or the official, provided that no such visit will be made without agreement of the Branch Committee or Branch Officers.

6.2  The National Executive Council or the General Secretary or other official acting with the authority of the National Executive Council is entitled to request an employed official to visit a branch where it is necessary to further the interests and policies of the Union.

6.3  An employed official is also entitled to visit a branch:

.1  for the purpose of financial checks and inspection

.2  in the event of industrial action

.3  where it appears to the General Secretary or the Regional Secretary that a branch may no longer be functioning effectively. 

7.  BRANCHES

Each branch shall submit by 15 March an annual return of branch income, expenditure, assets and liabilities in respect of the previous financial year ended 31 December. The return shall be in a form prescribed by the National Executive Council.