Hexagon HA recruitment eventThe strength of UNISON is in the workplace. There are many different roles that our members can pay to help build UNISON at work, making us stronger to win better terms and conditions.
Stewards play a very important role in the union. The UNISON steward is the first person members turn to when they have problems at work.
Representing Members
An important part of the steward's role is to support individual members by helping them to take their concerns to the employer.
UNISON's Representation Guide is crucial step-by-step guide to how you should approach grievance and disciplinary matters. The Introductory Organising Stewards Course covers representing members in grievance and disciplinary cases and will equip you to support your members, know how and when to get help and know the limitations of what is expected of you. The courses are run at various venues throughout the year.
But just as important is your ability to help groups of members solve their problems collectively. Group problems often present an opportunity to organise and get any non-members signed up - after all, their case will seem stronger to the employer if your position isn't undermined by non-members.
The Representation Guide also offers guidance on dealing with collective grievances, separate from those issues that are raised through collective bargaining machinery and where you want to change conditions of service.
Stewards, along with safety representatives and learning representatives, can act as a team, working together to find solutions to problems - are there health and safety aspects that strengthen the grievance, or is provision for learning a possible solution? Again, guidance is available for all representatives in the UNISON Representation Guide.
Negotiation and Consultation
Most branch stewards will be involved in local negotiations with their employer on pay, re-structuring, job descriptions etc. Local Bargaining, A Guide for UNISON Negotiators has helpful advice and UNISON runs training courses for negotiators.
It is important to understand the difference between negotiation and consultation.
Negotiation commits both parties to reaching agreement, whereas consultation is merely a commitment to exchange views. Your Recognition Agreement will set out what is subject to negotiation and what to consultation. UNISON guide to negotiating recognition.
While consultation gives unions fewer automatic rights it can still be very valuable in ensuring that the views of the union and its members are progressed. Skilful negotiators are often very successful in converting consultation into negotiation.
Some employers confuse consultation with the conveying of information. It is much more than this.
Most agreements and supporting legislation require employers to undertake 'meaningful' consultation. Model recognition agreement
Recruitment
Recruitment event at East Thames HA
One of the most vital jobs of a steward is to recruit new members. Organised workplaces with a high density of union membership means UNISON will have much greater influence with local management and with employers.
Members will have a stronger sense of confidence and ability to change things, together with much higher chances of winning recognition in non-recognised workplaces.
They will have more stewards, safety representatives and workplace contacts who run the union locally and ensure that the branch is truly representative.
All of this means that the union will have greater influence both locally and nationally, which helps UNISON campaign to improve public services, to stop discrimination, for equality of opportunity and for better pay and conditions of service.
Remember that it is particularly important to recruit young members if UNISON is to grow and be strong in the future.
'Nobody asked me!' -- that's the single biggest reason people give for not having joined a trade union. And the best people to recruit new members are the UNISON members working alongside them.
Successful recruiters can influence non-members to join when the union is seen to be active, has credibility, organises in a workplace and actively contacts potential members on a regular basis. Hexagon stewards recruited 9 new members when they publicised the benefits of membership at an open coffee morning.
An organising approach to recruitment is more likely to succeed than telling members the benefits of joining, and promising a servicing role in which members expect stewards to solve their problems for them.
- Application form
- Payroll deduction form
- 10 Good Reasons to Join UNISON poster
Temporary staff
The branch has issued guidance on temporary staff and we have a leaflet encouraging temporary and agency staff to join UNISON
Resources for Stewards
Your Rights
Green your workplace
Does your workplace have an environmental policy? Some ideas:
• Have you looked at developing environmental procurement policies
• Ensuring that all building use a Green energy tariff
• A resource recycling policy, printing double sided, not printing out emails
• Cycle allowances and facilities, encouraging use of public transport
• Use of energy efficient light bulbs and appliances
• Turning off computers and monitors – not leaving them on standby, switching off lights
