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The roles of branch officers

The officers a branch must have:

branch chairperson
branch secretary
treasurer
education co-ordinator
lifelong learning co-ordinator
equality officer(s)
health and safety officer
communications officer
membership officer
international officer
young members' officer
welfare officer
Labour link officer (elected by Affiliated Political Fund payers).

Chairperson

Tasks relating to the office of branch chairperson:

to preside at all meetings of the branch and branch committee
to agree the agenda for meetings with the secretary
to ensure that business is properly conducted
to advise the branch officers and branch committee in respect of matters relating to procedure and interpretation of rules.

Secretary

The branch secretary is responsible for ensuring the proper completion of the following tasks. It is not expected that, in larger branches in particular, the branch secretary will personally undertake all these functions but will act as the strategic lead officer and coordinator within the branch; encouraging partnership working within the branch committee; encouraging the development of new representatives, and the delegation of work to other branch officers and support staff as appropriate, whilst providing support and guidance.

Tasks relating to the office of branch secretary:

to guide the branch's development through the preparation and implementation of a branch organisation and development plan
to ensure the representation of members within the branch in accordance with national guidance and that caseforms and applications for services forwarded to UNISON offices are properly completed and authorised
to convene and attend all meetings of the branch and branch committee
to arrange for the minutes of meetings to be kept in a proper manner and circulated to all branch officers and stewards
to arrange for branch records to be kept in a proper manner
to ensure the branch, speedily and accurately, processes applications for membership and maintains records in accordance with UNISON's systems
to ensure regular communication with the members of the branch with news of campaigns, negotiations, issues, branch developments and activities
to communicate with the union's regional and head offices on behalf of the branch
• to ensure that branch members are aware of opportunities to participate in the activities of the wider union
to support and encourage the stewards in the branch on an individual and collective basis
to ensure that members and stewards are aware, and take advantage, of educational and training opportunities within UNISON
to ensure that appropriate publicity activities are developed and co-ordinated by the branch
to act as spokesperson for the branch when in contact with other levels of the union and external organisations
to ensure that members receive the benefits, rights and services to which they are entitled
to co-ordinate all branch negotiations and industrial relations matters
to ensure, in conjunction with the branch committee, that the branch observes the union's rules, supports UNISON campaign and works towards achieving UNISON's objectives
to ensure the proper management and direction of any branch employed staff.

Treasurer

Tasks relating to the office of branch treasurer:

to conduct the branch's financial business
to keep accounts in accordance with the rules
to provide reports on the financial position of the branch to the branch committee or branch executive committee
to provide a detailed financial report for the annual branch meeting(s)
to advise the branch officers and branch committee in respect of matters relating to financial management and appropriate expenditure
to provide an audited annual return of branch income.

Education co-ordinator

Tasks relating to the post of branch education co-ordinator:

to ensure all new stewards and safety representatives receive initial information and guidance about their duties eg stewards handbook, rulebook, service conditions agreements, etc
to publicise the range of educational and training opportunities available to members and activists
to get untrained stewards, safety representatives and other branch officers onto appropriate training courses
to co-ordinate and support the work of learning representatives
to encourage branch members and activists to make use of the UNISON Open College courses, especially 'Return to Learn' and 'Women, Work and Society'.
to maintain contact with the regional education officer/regional education committee
to establish a plan of training for activists and to produce an annual budget to meet its costs
to keep records of what training has been undertaken and by whom within the branch
to make sure that activists get paid time off for training where appropriate.

Lifelong learning co-ordinator

A branch with a number of lifelong learning representatives working as a team, led by a co-ordinator, can ensure that learning representatives are accountable and involved in the branch; that learning is high on the branch's agenda and linked into its organising, bargaining and equalities work; and can provide a clear progression route for learning representatives who want to become more involved in other aspects of branch activity.

Tasks relating to the post of branch lifelong learning co-ordinator:

to work closely with the branch education co-ordinator (the same person may take on both roles)
to co-ordinate the activity of UNISON lifelong learning representatives in the branch education team
to work with colleagues to recruit new lifelong learning representatives
to be closely involved in negotiating around learning with the employer
to co-ordinate and disseminate information on learning opportunities in the branch
to ensure that the work of lifelong learning representatives is fully integrated into the branch.

Equality officer

The branch equality officer has a number of important functions. It is not expected that the office holder will be the font of all knowledge on every equality issue, nor carry sole responsibility for the branch's equality work. Everyone shares responsibility for tackling prejudice and discrimination and promoting equality. The role of the branch equality officer is to co-ordinate and monitor this shared responsibility.

Tasks relating to the office of equality officer:

to be the identified and well publicised point of contact in the branch for equality issues
to collect and share information on equalities issues, including information from the regional and national self-organised groups
to make sure other branch officers and the branch committee consider the equalities dimension of everything they do
to make sure equal opportunities is being raised in all collective bargaining - not just in bargaining on 'pure' equalities issues
to encourage and support the development of branch selforganised groups on behalf of the branch committee
to have a co-ordinating role between the self-organised groups, and between the self-organised groups and the rest of the branch
to make sure new recruits know about UNISON's commitment to equality and opportunities to participate in self-organisation
to advise the branch officers and branch committee on the development and monitoring of the action plan to achieve proportionality and fair representation
to co-ordinate the development and training of members from under-represented groups.

Health and safety officer

Tasks relating to the post of health and safety officer:

to increase the awareness of members, health and safety representatives and branch officers of health and safety issues
to organise the information held by the branch on health and safety
to co-ordinate the activity of health and safety representatives and to organise regular meetings of health & safety representatives to exchange information and consider priorities
to advise the branch committee on health and safety issues arising in the branch and to recommend policies and priorities
to act as a link between the health and safety representatives and other branch representatives to ensure that health and safety issues are treated as an integral part of the work of the branch
to maintain contact with the region and regional service groups, for example via the regional health and safety committee.

Communications officer

Tasks relating to the post of branch communications officer:

to explain UNISON's policies and to provide the information members need to play an active role in their union
to assist with efforts to recruit new members
to help support UNISON's national and regional campaigns
to help create a positive image for the branch among members, potential members and the public
to produce news-sheets or bulletins for distribution to branch members
to ensure branch communications are in the accessible formats members need - audit for any particular requirements such as large print / Braille etc.
to ensure that nationally and regionally produced publicity and campaign materials are distributed, as appropriate, to stewards and onward to members and non-members
to monitor local media for stories which affect the branch and taking appropriate action
to help ensure that the branch makes effective contact with the media whenever necessary by:
- creating and maintaining mailing lists to media outlets and contacts
  writing press releases
- ensuring that appropriate individuals within the branch are available for comments, interviews, etc.
- writing 'letters to the editor'.

Membership officer

Tasks relating to the post of membership officer:

to map the branch's membership to identify membership density and steward coverage
to monitor the branch's recruitment, and also leavers' rate
to work with the branch committee to develop and implement its organisation and development plan
to make recommendations to the branch committee on recruitment activities, targets, resources, budgets, etc.

International officer

Tasks relating to the post of international officer

to co-ordinate the branch's work on international relations
to ensure that branch members are informed of national policy on international matters
to receive and distribute relevant information
to encourage members to be aware of the importance of international solidarity issues within the context of the overall work of the union
to liaise where appropriate with regional International structures and to ensure that the views of the branch on international activities reported appropriately
to liaise with other branch officers concerning publicity and education on international issues
to liaise with the solidarity organisations and campaigns that UNISON is affiliated to
to encourage members of the branch to take action and participate in international solidarity activities organised nationally or regionally
to ensure that information on branch activity is shared at regional and national level
to seek to develop an international perspective amongst members, stewards and branch officers

Young members' officer

The role of the branch young members' officer is ideal for someone who is interested in becoming more active in the union. The post may be a stepping stone to becoming a steward or taking on wider roles.

Tasks relating to the post of young members' officer:

to recruit new members and to encourage existing young members to become active in the branch
to make sure issues of concern to young workers are raised by the branch
to act as a focal point for all young workers in the branch and workplaces
to receive and distribute UNISON young members' information
to encourage involvement in UNISON young members' campaigns
to build branch young members' organisation and to ensure there are potential new young members' officers in the future.

Other branch officers will assist in these tasks. Branch young members' officer must be under 27 years of age.

Labour Link officer

The Labour Link officer is elected and accountable to the Labour Link section within the branch and must be an individual member of the Labour Party - this is because the post holder should work to take UNISON policy forward in the party, often being a delegate to the general committee of the party, and encouraging joint work and campaigning with the local Constituency Labour Party.

The branch UNISON Labour Link Officer is the key contact point for information about regional and national UNISON Labour Link matters and is responsible for co-ordinating our activities in the branch. They also represent the interests of Labour Link levy payers on the UNISON branch committee.

The Labour Link officer will receive support, training and advice on their role and responsibilities from their regional political officer.

Tasks relating to the post of Labour Link officer:

explain and develop the role of the UNISON Labour Link within the branch and ensure that correct procedures are followed regarding the rights of Labour Link levy payers
receive correspondence and information on Labour Link matters from national and regional levels and from the Labour Party
circulate information to Labour Link members in the branch and convene meetings of members as necessary
attend the UNISON branch committee and agree appropriate means of promoting UNISON policy in the party
organise elections for branch UNISON Labour Link representation within the regional Labour Link as necessary and ensure reports are made by branch delegates on their activities on behalf of members
liaise with Labour Link regional political officer
promote political education and policy discussions
strengthen links with local Labour Parties by affiliating to constituencies and electing delegates to attend meetings
communicate with Labour Party members within the branch and encourage individual membership of the Labour Party
build campaigning work around key issues and co-ordinate campaigns with the Labour Party in council, Westminster, Scotland, Wales and European elections.

Retired members' secretary

The role of the retired members' secretary is to enable retired members of the branch to continue to be active in the union through the branch's retired members' section.

Tasks relating to the post of retired members' secretary:

to ensure that those members approaching retirement have the opportunity to become retired members
to organise meetings of the branch retired members
to encourage the participation of retired members in branch activities as appropriate
to establish links with other retirement organisations in the area
to attend meetings of the branch committee
to submit a budget to the branch committee to fund retired member activities
to ensure that the retired members' section functions in accordance with UNISON rule and any branch standing orders and procedures.

To be a branch retired members' secretary, you must be eligible for retired membership.

Welfare officer

Tasks relating to the post of branch welfare officer:

to ensure that branch officers, stewards and workplace representatives, and also employers, have regular up to date information about UNISON Welfare and its range of services
to ensure that members seeking welfare assistance receive a prompt, supportive and effective response
to liaise and co-ordinate with regional and national levels to ensure that UNISON Welfare support is provided effectively
to undertake training and seek advice from UNISON Welfare where necessary
to develop links with local charities and sources of support such as Citizens' Advice Bureau and women's refuges.