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About the role of Stewards, Reps, Workplace Contacts and Branch Officers

(See elsewhere for names and contact details of branch Stewards, Reps & Workplace Contacts)

All UNISON reps and activists are volunteers. We all support each other

We recruit new members. Those of us who have been trained can advise and represent members with problems. We also consult with our employers in the interests of every employee, not members alone. We campaign to improve our working lives on issues that are core UNISON values.

One of UNISON's core values is that we must be a properly representative union. This means that in our Branch, where over 75% of the members are women, we would expect to see proportionately more women than men active in the Branch. But it isn't so. One quarter of the membership is taking on three quarters of the work, and still we do not have enough active reps to tackle all the work needed.

We urgently need more women to volunteer. We also need to hear from more members who are low-paid, or part-time, or young members, or disabled, or black, or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. It's time to get involved.

Representatives take on the following roles. What role suits your talents? Read on and see ....

Steward
Lead steward
Health & safety representative
Union learning rep
Workplace contact
Branch officers: (that the Rule Book requires us to have - other posts are optional)

Steward

These are the key people in the Branch. They regularly meet the employees in their area, recruit new employees and represent the interests of all employees with local management. If a member (not necessarily in their area) has a problem they advise and represent that member. In addition they promote the union's campaigns. They do not act as representatives for non-members.

They can contact more experienced stewards or the branch secretary for help and ask the regional officers for advice.

Works with:

Health & safety reps, branch Officers, branch office staff and the local employer.

Attends:

Local workplace meetings. Monthly stewards committee meeting. Annual general meeting, Special general meeting. Branch executive every second month. Might be nominated to a regional or national committee if they are interested.

Comprehensive training and refresher training is provided. It is structured in modules to make it easier to achieve all the training needed.

Lead steward (in some associated employers)

A more experienced steward, with an additional role as a negotiator. Has more paid time off work. Lead stewards consult with senior management on behalf of all employees, not union members alone. They are sometimes given part-time or full-time secondment to a convenors role for consultative and organising purposes. They often sit on the staff side relating to their employer.

Works with:

Stewards in their area, other lead stewards on their staff side, health & safety reps, branch officers, regional officers, branch office staff and their employer's senior management.

Attends:

Meetings with the employer. Stewards committee meetings. annual general meeting, special general meeting, branch executive every month. Might be nominated to regional or national committees.

Health & Safety Representative

All health & safety reps have to have basic training in order to be recognised by the employer. Once they are trained and recognised they have more power over a workplace than does a steward.

Health & safety reps have a vital role in ensuring work is done in a safe and healthy way in a safe and healthy environment. In addition health and safety issues are good recruitment issues and health & safety reps have a strong role to play in recruitment.

Works with:

Stewards, local management, senior level management through the health & safety committee, regional health and safety officers.

Attends:

Stewards monthly committee if there is an issue, monthly health & safety meeting, branch executive, annual general meeting, special general meeting. senior, or long-standing health & safety reps might be nominated to regional or national positions.

Comprehensive training and refresher training is provided. It is structured in modules to make it easier to achieve all the training needed as flexibly as possible.

Union Learning Rep (ULRs)

Helps to advise about and promote take-up of learning opportunities in their workplaces. Training is given. There is a special recognition with Devon County Council for DCC employee / members to undertake this work in paid time.

Works with:

The lifelong learning co-ordinator, the branch education co-ordinator, mMembers (and in Devon County Council, non-members too).

Attends:

Lifelong learning committee meetings, any other relevant meetings as necessary.

Workplace Contact

Where there is no local steward, the workplace contact links members to the branch so that they get UNISON news. Can join in campaigns, events, training adverts etc. The workplace contact notifies the branch of any problems.

Works with:

Stewards in their area, health & safety if needed, branch officers, branch office staff.

Attends:

Is welcome to attend any local stewards meeting and branch executive if they wish to, otherwise, annual general meeting and special general meeting. In-house induction training is provided.

If you have any questions about these duties please contact the Branch Office on 01392 382530, or branchoffice@devoncountyunison.org.uk.