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About UNISON
Scotland's Public Service Union
UNISON represents around 150,000 members delivering public services in Scotland - around 1.3 million UK wide.
Members are allocated to local branches.
Branch Life
Every member of
UNISON belongs to a local branch which is made up of people working for the
same employer or sometimes working for the company which is used by the
main employer.
People like you
Your branch brings you together with other employees who face common issues
in the workplace. Branches enable you to get support from the union, work
with your colleagues and make your views felt in UNISON.
Branch organisation
Each branch is run by a committee
which consists of members elected to take on different roles. It's people
like your local UNISON Branch Secretary, Chairperson, Treasurer and the
rest of the Branch Executive and Stewards who build the union and work to
win everyone a better deal.
Branches hold regular meetings, including an annual general meeting. This
is how people get elected to the branch committee and other UNISON
structures.
Workplace
stewards and health and safety representatives are the core of the branch.
Without them there would be no union to support you at work and negotiate
for a better deal.
Why are stewards important?
Stewards are the backbone of UNISON. Without stewards there would be no one
there to act as the link between members and the union and to organise and
support people in the workplace.
What does a steward do?
As a steward you can:
·
Talk to,
recruit and organise members
·
Talk to
members about workplace problems
·
Represent
members in your workplace
·
Be
involved in how your branch and union is run.
Will I have to negotiate with my
employer?
It helps if stewards go to meetings with employers - it's usually the best
way to talk to them! But you won't be forced to do anything you don't want
to do and we will offer you training and backup.
What rights do I get as a steward?
In workplaces where UNISON is recognised by the employer stewards have
rights to time off for training and to carry out their work. This includes:
·
Meetings
with members and management
·
Preparation
and research
·
Keeping
members informed
Do I get any training?
All new stewards are encouraged to go on an induction course and on a
course for handling grievances and disciplinary matters. You'll receive
regular information on training courses covering a wide range of workplace
issues. Contact John Kerr unisoneducation@btconnect.com for
further details.
Why are health and safety reps
important?
UNISON members believe health and safety is the most important issue at
work. Health and safety can be a matter of life and death. Many of our
members know what it's like to experience stress, violence or accidents and
injuries at work.
What do health and safety reps do?
Everybody who works has basic rights, which include things like sufficient
space to work in, clean and well-lit workplaces and safe working practices.
Health and safety reps work to make the workplace as safe as possible.
·
Make
representations to the employer on behalf of members on any health, safety
and welfare matter
·
Represent
members in consultation with Health and Safety Executive inspectors or
other enforcing authorities
·
Inspect
designated workplace areas at least every three months.
Like stewards,
safety reps are chosen by union members.
For more information on becoming a
Safety Rep contact Eudora Tabor. Tel:
- 0785839228.
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