Branch Representatives
Branch Representatives
A UNISON Workplace Representative is an elected representative whose role includes organising, recruiting and representing members (including at disciplinary and grievance hearings).
Reps in workplaces where UNISON is recognised by the employer have rights to time off for training and to carry out their work.
Workplace Reps have a right to be involved in how their branch is run and are the most important link between the members and the union.
UNISON aims to have at least one steward in each workplace.
You would never be expected to represent a member if you were uncomfortable doing so or if it caused a conflict of interest. The branch is always behind you and will always support, guide and advise you and take on cases you need us to be the representative for.
A health and safety representative has the right to training and to raise issues which affect the health and safety of members.
UNISON aims to have at least one health and safety representative in every workplace where we have members.
In some cases, the safety representative and steward are the same person but they have two separate roles.
Safety representatives have specific duties and responsibilities and also have important legal rights.
You would never be expected to represent a member if you were uncomfortable doing so or if it caused a conflict of interest. The branch is always behind you and will always support, guide and advise you and take on cases you need us to be the representative for.
Workplace and Health & Safety Reps are elected each year by the group of members that they represent and the post is open to job share. The election is held just prior to the AGM so that the posts can be ratified and noted at the AGM. The branch office will always send you the information for re-election at the appropriate time.
Before you can represent members you would need to undertake the accredited on-line training which is for one day per week over 5 weeks, details of all training can be found on: Education and Training | UNISON West Midlands. You would receive paid time off to attend the virtual training.
In addition to this it is expected that all Workplace and Health & Safety Reps attend the Branch Committee meetings which again will be held virtually and tend to be every 2 months throughout the year for around 1.5 to 2 hours, some of these meetings incorporate training. All Health and Safety Reps must attend the AGM.
Please see below for useful links for reps:
Activist training | UNISON College
Key documents and tools for activists | Get active in your workplace | UNISON National
New reps - where to get support | Activist courses and development opportunities | UNISON National