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Why Join Us?
Each of our 1.3 million members has their own reasons for joining UNISON. But every one receives our help and support. Join today, and you can too.
Advice, support and help when you need it at work.
We have a network of trained local advisors and negotiators who will provide you with help at work when you need it most, as well as professional legal advisors and experts when appropriate.
What Is A Union & What Do We Do For You?
Understanding what the union is about and some of the misconceptions staff may have of a union .....
Below is the definition of a trade union from the dictionary.
trade union
noun
an organized association of workers in a trade, group of trades, or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests.
The most important part of this definition is the reason ‘to protect and further their rights and
Interests’.
We are NOT the unions of the 1970’s, they ceased to exist at least two decades ago. Our purpose is to help, support and protect workers.
Our union is UNISON. We work on several levels. Nationally, Regionally and Locally.
Kent Police and Justice Branch is here purely to help employees of Kent Police, staff from Kent Probation Service (NPS & CRC) and other employees within the Justice Sector. (Please ensure you contact us to ensure we are the right sector for you)
IT IS A BRANCH FOR YOU
How Much Does It Cost?
As a Union we cannot always negotiate a deal that benefits everybody favourably but we do try and negotiate so that the least number of members are affected. Remember as a union we have to look at the overall effect on all members not just the effect on an individual.
Many individuals think they only need us in times of problems or crisis. Of course we are there to give you support and guidance as a member, should you need it, but there is so much more your union undertakes for your benefit too.
Did you know we negotiate almost on a daily basis, with the employer on issues that cover Terms and Conditions, Policies, how staff operate and how the employer wants to make changes to their staffing? We may not always be able change what an employer wants to implement, but we will challenge and debate these matters with the employer because we feel there is a need to do. Our role is to ensure full consultation takes place within any legal requirements set out by law, and to be the voice to challenge the impact of any change if required.
When the force wants to make changes to Terms and Conditions, policies or any other working practices, we make sure the force remembers that our members are police staff NOT police officers. There are fundamental differences with regard to most of the working practices.
You may think, why do I need to join a union? Here are some good reasons.
Nationally Unison negotiates with the government with regard to government policies and the effects these will have on members from all the public sectors.
Regional Office is there to assist the branches, like ours. They offer guidance and support that is relevant to the regions they cover. They take on cases that cannot be resolved at a branch level. They organise and rally for changes and improvements in their local areas.
Unison has a number of Membership Benefits. It has joined forces with many organisations to offer discounted shopping, insurances, holidays, cars. It can give you access to solicitors, or help setting up a will and much more. (Follow the link below to find out more)
The union monitors Health & Safety and can be contacted with regards to any health and safety issues that a member may have. Both generically and on a personal level. You will also see that we have dedicated H&S Officers. ( see 'Our Team' section)
If you need support to discuss or to negotiate with your employer, whatever the subject matter, we can be with you to guide, support and advise where necessary.
The union is also involved in the panel to evaluate job roles to ensure that is a fair and Non bias process within the evaluation method that the Force employs. The union is also involved in meetings Divisionally/Departmentally, as well as at Headquarters at all levels of Command in all areas of the business and meets regularly with the Police Crime Commissioner. (That is a lot of meetings).
The union consults on policy that is to be implemented to ensure it is not detrimental to police staff.
There are staff who believe that as other colleagues are members, they do not need to join. The union will still do its work. This in part is true BUT the more members we have, the bigger difference we can make, and it gives us much more strength for bargaining and negotiating with the force.
Strength in numbers has always been the key for unions. If all staff held this view, there would be no Union and the employers could do what they want without ever being challenged.(Imagine That!) If you are not a member, give this some thought.
There is a cost implication but this is in line with your earnings and has not been raised
for several years. The MORE members we have the BIGGER the difference we can make.
UNISON support for new members: what can you expect?
UNISON support for new members: what can you expect?
We’d like to clarify the level of support new members of the union can receive.
Once you join us, for the first four weeks of your membership you are only permitted one session of advice, up to a maximum of 30 minutes in length, of either telephone or email advice on any issue of concern. After four weeks, you’re entitled to the full support available to any member of the union, up to and including full representation and legal advice (unless for a ‘pre-existing issue’ – see below).
The same ‘one session/max 30 minute’ service rule applies to new members who join with what we call a ‘pre-existing issue’. That is, if you join in the knowledge that something has happened to you, or will happen to you, even after the four week qualifying period has expired if you then subsequently seek the union’s support to deal with a pre-existing issue it will be limited to one short advice session.
Why do we restrict early support in this way?
Why do we restrict early support in this way?
Unfortunately, we’ve had several cases brought to our attention involving new members, where we have given a higher level of early support due to the nature and complexity of the issues they raised.
After our intervention, and once those issues had been resolved, some of those members immediately left the union, having got the result they wanted. We believe this is an unacceptable approach to union membership, so the Branch Committee has changed the way we handle new members.
Union membership is not something you can dip in and out of when events at work happen which you need advice and support on. The union provides a huge range of membership benefits and makes a big difference to every aspect of your working life due to the work we do with employers negotiating on your behalf. Don’t wait for a problem – join today.
Unions have to call for strike action from time to time but this is actually quite rare within the Police and Justice Sector. A union will do all it can to avoid strike action as it can cause hardship to the members. However, sometimes it is the only way employees can make a government or company see how far it has pushed them, and they have to make a stand in order for the employer or government to listen and negotiate.
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