This guide is designed to help you through the structure and aims of the union. We want everyone to be able to take part in UNISON and this information can help.
Who we are
UNISON has over 1.3 million members, making it the biggest union in the UK. Its members are people working in the public services and essential utilities. They include manual and non-manual workers working full or part-time in local authorities, the NHS, colleges and schools, the electricity, gas and water industries, transport and the voluntary sector.
What we do for you
Most people join a union because they want protection at work help with pay and conditions of service perhaps, legal or health and safety advice or representation in case things go wrong at work. That's what we're here for. UNISON negotiates on pay and working conditions at every level - local, regional and national.
But we do a lot more.
UNISON also provides a range of excellent benefits and services for all its members, so make sure you make the most of your membership.
UNISON locally
Every member of UNISON belongs to a local branch which is made up of people working for the same employer.
One of the most important people in your branch and UNISON is your steward. They will be the first point of contact for most UNISON members. They are volunteers, elected every year by their colleagues in the branch. They have a vital role to play, recruiting new members and working directly with you. If you are worried about anything at work, your steward is the first person to talk to. They will take up your problem and may be able to sort it out themselves. If it is something they cannot handle on their own, they will talk to other branch officers or a full-time officer of the union on your behalf.
UNISON is always looking for more people to be trained as stewards, so if you are interested in getting more involved, why not find out more about what stewards do? Have a word with your steward about how you could help.
As well as stewards, every UNISON branch has volunteer elected officers who organise the branch and represent you and your work colleagues with your local employers. You can play an active part in your branch by going to its meetings and activities, voting in elections and helping to spread the word with your work colleagues.
UNISON at work
Everyone has problems at work sometimes and UNISON can help. Being a UNISON member means you can get help quickly and easily with things like pay, rotas, leave and sickness.
Health and safety
Everyone has a right to work in healthy and safe conditions. Health risks are not a part of your contract. It is your employer's legal duty to provide you with a safe workplace, safe working methods and safe equipment.
If you are worried about poor working conditions - go and see your UNISON safety representative. Our safety reps have a legal right to carry out their work and make sure that you work safely and healthily.
If your workplace has no safety rep, why not think about becoming one yourself? You will get training and time off with pay.
Disciplinary action
UNISON can help you with advice and representation if you are threatened with disciplinary action by your employer. Use your right to have a UNISON rep with you in any meetings and make sure your steward knows what is going on as soon as possible.
Dismissal or redundancy
You should contact your steward immediately if you are threatened with dismissal or redundancy. They will help you lodge an appeal and defend you in any proceedings. Remember, you are not alone if you are a UNISON member.
If you are dismissed unfairly, UNISON will help you take your employers to a tribunal and provide free legal help.
If you face compulsory redundancy, UNISON will fight to save your job and if the worst happens, make sure you get proper compensation.
Grievances
Employers can be unreasonable in what they ask you to do, Talk to a UNISON branch officer who will let you know where you stand and take up the case with your employers.
Discrimination and harassment
Sadly. some groups of people can still face discrimination and unfairness at work just because they are black, or a woman, or disabled. Some people face harassment and bullying in the workplace. Don't just suffer in silence. UNISON has a proud record in defending members against this kind of treatment and will help you in these difficult cases. Ask your steward or branch officer for help.
How UNISON works
for everyone
With over 1.3 million members working all over the UK, UNISON needs a clear structure to make sure that all members have their say at every level of the union. UNISON is divided into 13 regions, covering all of the UK. Each region has its own regional council, made up of delegates elected from all the branches in the area. The regional council brings together members from across the region to discuss regional policy and development.
It is also the main link between local branches and between branches and the national executive council. The governing body of UNISON is the annual national delegate conference - where UNISON's national policy is decided by delegates elected from branches, regions, and self-organised groups.
Policies decided by conference are carried out by the national executive council (NEC), which is made up of 57 members elected from regions and service groups. Because UNISON wants to make sure that all its structures represent its membership accurately, at least 44 out of those 67 seats are held by women and 13 are held by low-paid women.
for members in different services
Alongside this structure which covers members working in all different occupations UNISON also has a 'service group' structure which brings together members working in six different service areas. These are: local government, health care, higher education, water, transport and energy.
This means that members working in those areas can discuss policies. pay and conditions and other employment matters that affect them. Each service group has its own national conference, executive commit tee and regional committee.
for women
Women make up two thirds of UNISON's members, so women need to be at the heart of the union. To make sure that women's issues like equal pay, childcare. and part-time working rights stay at the top of the union's agenda, UNISON has set up a structure to make sure women have a fair voice in the union. This means that at every level in the union, when people are elected to committees or delegations, women must be elected fairly in proportion to their membership.
So seats on the NEC are guaranteed for women and low-paid women. Every committee, from branch to national level. should represent women in proportion to their membership. UNISON calls this proportionality"
for disadvantaged groups
Equal opportunities for everyone is central to UNISON's beliefs. Currently some groups face particular discrimination at work and in society women, black members, disabled members and lesbians and gay men. To make sure that these groups of members have a voice on the issues that affect them, UNISON has 'self-organised groups'. These vary from group to group and region to region, but each has its own national officers, national structure and conference. These groups do not work in isolation they are a key part of the whole union and there are areas where they will cross over with each other.
It is not a separate structure but a way to make sure that groups who are traditionally under-represented have a fair say in UNISON.
UNISON in action
UNISON is a responsible union and knows that the best way to achieve what its members need is through negotiation and reason.
But in some circumstances and with some employers, this is not always enough. So UNISON members sometimes decide to take industrial action to back their claims.
Members will only be expected to take industrial action after a secret ballot.
Normally, industrial action can only be called if it is backed by the branch concerned and by the UNISON NEC's industrial action committee.
If your branch is likely to be involved in industrial action, it is important for you to go to all the meetings about it and make sure you understand the issues involved. Make sure that you use your vote - however you feel about the action.
UNISON in all things
UNISON is the UK's biggest union, so it has a lot of influence outside the workplace. It is the largest union in the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and plays a central role in deciding TUC policy.
Similarly, it has a big voice in the Scottish, Welsh and Irish trades union congresses.
To make sure that the issues affecting our members are heard in the outside world, UNISON has to, by law, have a political fund. This is money collected front our members which can be spent purely on political and social campaigning. This money is separate from your normal contributions.
Unlike any other union, UNISON offers you the choice of two political funds to pay into. One, the Affiliated Political Fund, works directly to support the Labour Party and contributors are affiliated members of the party.
The other, called the General Political Fund, campaigns in a non-affiliated way to further the interests of UNISON members. That can mean advertising campaigns and other activities in support of our members' jobs and services.
UNISON members can choose to join either part of the fund, neither or both.
Because of different legislation in Northern Ireland, members there are not automatically allocated to one of the political funds. If you wish to choose to pay a political fund contribution, you should contact your branch or regional office.
UNISON working for you
Every UNISON member can benefit front a range of services and benefits. These include:
Excellent legal services
UNISON can provide legal advice and assistance with problems at work and at home for you and your family. At work - UNISON provides free legal help to members injured at work. Specialist lawyers will advise you on your rights and can help you claim compensation. We can also help your local representative with legal information if you have a dispute with your employer. UNISON can also help with immigration, housing and criminal charges relating to work.
Outside work a package of legal services available include a conveyancing scheme at an agreed fixed fee, a low cost will service, free initial advice on any legal problem and help in the event of traffic accidents. Please ask your branch for details.
Education and training
Don't forget that our education and training department can help with advice and guidance with your career, including offering courses leading to vocational and professional qualifications. UNISON's Open College distance learning courses can help you develop your career or personal potential. We also help with trade union training on negotiating, health and safety and equal opportunities. Please speak to your branch education officer or ring 020 7388 2366 and ask for Education and Training.
Communications
Every member of UNISON receives a copy of our membership magazine sent to their home. UNISON also publishes a fortnightly paper for stewards and activists and a wide range of leaflets, publications and publicity items. Ask your branch secretary for details.
Pensions advice
Your pension is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, so be sure you know what you are entitled to at work and what your options are. Your local branch officers are on hand to give advice.
Welfare
We're here for when life is more complicated. UNISON's welfare services are generous and confidential and can even help with convalescent care. Phone us on 020 7391 9170.
Rule book benefits
UNISON's rule book guarantees members certain benefits. These include death benefit, fatal accident benefit, incapacity benefit, accident benefit and education and training grants.
UNISON membership services
Being a UNISON member gives you the chance to take advantage of a great deal on a range of services.
The UNISON Holiday Club - for discounts on travel and holidays. Tel: 08705 505000
UIA insurance - special rates for household, travel and personal accident insurance. Tel: 0800 668855
Britannia Building Society - preferential mortgage and saving accounts rates for UNISON members. Tel: 0800 778888
Frizzell - for motor insurance, personal loans, life and financial planning advice. Tel: 01202 292333
Britannia Rescue - the UK's fastest road rescue service offers members four different levels of cover and a discount of up to 20 per cent. Tel: 0800 591563
Croyde Bay Holiday Centre - a 10 per cent discount on all half board holidays and short breaks at UNISON; own holiday centre in beautiful North Devon. Tel: 01271 890890
The UNISON Credit Card - an attractive APR and other special benefits are available to UNISON members. Tel: 020 7551 1749
SimpliTax-offers help and advice on personal tax matters to UNISON members. Tel: 0800 783 9564
Medicash - the UNISON-endorsed Health Cashplan that not only pays you cash when you are ill and most need help, but also supports the NHS. Tel: 0151 702 0235
UNISON Membership Services - for more information on membership services. Tel: 020 7551 1249
How your subs are worked out
UNISON's subscription rates are set by the national delegate conference. At the moment, UNISON has eight subscription 'bands' and you pay differing amounts depending on how much you earn.
Ask your steward for a copy of the current subscription rates.
Student members in full time education pay just £10 per year.
Retired members pay a single payment of £15 for life membership (unless they were already retired or life members of COHSE, NALGO or NUPE on 1 July 1993).
Our promise to you
UNISON members are entitled to a minimum standard of service from their union. UNISON believes that you have a right to:
up-to-date
information about the union and its work in language and design that is
easily understandable, including in languages other than English
take
part in union meetings that meet your trade union, workplace and domestic
needs
put
yourself forward for election to union posts
vote
for policies, representatives and delegates to conferences
hold
your representatives accountable
take
part in development of the union and implementation of policies
ask
questions of the union and receive a considered reply in reasonable time
have
access to a wide range of union services.
What we believe
UNISON has adopted a set of 'aims and values' which put members at the heart of the union's activities and concerns. The values which UNISON has based its policies on are:
democracy
accountability
solidarity
co-operation
communication
and education
equality
partnership
To put these values into practice, UNISON aims to:
build
a union open to all working people who are engaged in the provision of
services to the public, whether they are employed by national or local
government, private companies or the voluntary sector
be
accessible to all our members so that they can make decisions about issues
that affect their lives, both at work and beyond
make
sure our structures and decision-making methods are in the interests of
our members to create a member-led union
represent
our members' economic and social interests to government and employers
in the most democratic and effective way
achieve
equality of opportunity for all disadvantaged groups and individuals within
UNISON
promote
strength and solidarity between all groups and interests in UNISON and
extend solidarity through local, national and international links with
members of other unions
work
in a spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and generosity, recognising that
UNISON members have diverse interests which can only be united through
democratic discussion
provide
the highest possible standard of service to our members and maintain the
sound financial management of the union.
Useful addresses:
Headquarters
I Mabledon Place London WCIH 9AJ
Phone: 020 7388 2366
Southern region:
UNISON House, 8 Church Street, Reading, RG1 2SB
Phone 0870 770 1112
Last Updated on 06/05/2002
By Andrew Gosling
Email: [email protected]