Duties of Branch Officers and Stewards
The Branch Council Chair chairs General and Branch Council meetings and positively leads the Branch by keeping all activities and the achievement of Branch aims and policies under review. Provides guidance to other Branch Officers and acts as a "Branch Arbitrator" on disputes with employees.
The Branch Secretary is the leading officer in the Branch and is the Branch administrator, responsible for co-ordinating all activities. The Branch Secretary maintains links with Branch officers, listens to and advises stewards and/or members) about problems. The Secretary oversees the work of the Branch Employed Staff, Branch Committees and working groups, arranges and services meetings of the Branch, ensures that the Branch is represented at Regional Council and Annual Conference and submits Branch motions to Conference, Regional Council etc.
The Assistant Secretary deputises for the Secretary and assists the Secretary as necessary and deals with recruitment.
The Auditors audit the annual accounts
and make recommendations and comments as appropriate
The Branch Liaison Officer keeps officers informed of office workload demands and staff informed of Branch developments which impact on the Branch Office. Acts as advisor and conciliator between office and Branch activists when required
The Education Officer organises briefings for all new officers, stewards and safety representatives and ensures that they undertake the full programme of basic training. S/he promotes other courses available to the Branch, approves nominations for courses, and helps individual members make use of the vocational facilities available to them. Also helps the Branch Council negotiate on post-entry training schemes and monitors the way they are applied.
The Equalities Officer is the point of contact in the branch for equality issues; make sure other branch officers and the branch committee consider the equalities dimension of everything they do; make sure "equal opportunities" is being raised in all collective bargaining - not just in bargaining on 'pure' equalities issues; encourage and support the development of branch self-organised groups on behalf of the branch committee; have a co-ordinating role among the Equality Reps, self-organised groups, and between the self organised groups and the rest of the branch; make sure new recruits know about UNISON's commitment to equality and opportunities to participate in self-organisation; advise the branch committee on the development and monitoring of the branch action plan to achieve proportionality and fair representation; co-ordinate the development and training of members from under-represented groups; to co-ordinate motions and support to delegates attending self-organised group conferences.
The Health & Safety Officer co-ordinates the activities of the safety representatives, monitors the employers' safety policy, advises on negotiations involving health & safety, keeps abreast of H & S legislation and represents the Branch on the Central Health & Safety Committee.
The International Officer's function is primarily to alert the branch to issues and opportunities that could impact on the effectiveness of the branch and the work it does to protect jobs and services. They can take issues of interest to Somerset Branch to the regional committee in order to win wider understanding and support. Similarly can bring issues that are relevant and of interest to the branch for information, discussion and action.
The IT & Communications Officer assists the Branch with developing IT based communication and data systems. Develops and maintains the Branch website, ensuring that it is updated regularly.
The Labour Link Officer receives and circulates correspondence and information of Affiliated Political Fund matters, explains and develops the role of APF, convenes meetings, arranges discussions on policy, promotes political education and policy discussions, strengthens links with local Labour Parties.
The LGBT Officer Awaiting info
The Lifelong Learning Officer promotes UNISON's committment to meeting its members' needs in regard to skills and knowledge development, enabling them to further their own personal and career objectives and at the same time support the drive for high quality services for local communities.
The Magazine Editor prepares and edits the Branch magazine, SCOOP.
The Retired Members Officer represents retired members of UNISON and also those about to retire. Establishes links to external retirement organisations in the area and contacts the Branch Welfare Officer when aware that a retired member is ill or needs help. They also raise the awareness of working members about the importance of supporting UNISON's campaigns to secure quality of life in retirement for members in the future.
The Service Conditions Officers
oversee (with the Secretary) all service conditions issues, ensuring that local and
national agreements are applied properly, advises stewards on service conditions issues
affecting idividual and group members and lead the negotiating team at meetings with employers.
There
are two Branch Service Conditions Officers. One role ranges across the whole Branch.
The other focuses particularly on Southwest One.
The Sports & Social Officer organises events for members at Branch and Regional level.
Steward Co-ordinators co-ordinate teams of stewards in geographical areas and distribute casework, providing advice and also taking the lead role.
The Treasurer has overall responsibility for the Branch's financial management and for membership records. S/he arranges the collection of subscription, ensuring members pay the correct amount, keeos proper books of accounts, ensures the Branch receives its rightful funds from HQ, and makes payments under the authorisation of the Branch Council. The Treasurer keeps the Branch Council informed of the Branch's financial position, advises of the financial implications of proposals, prepares a Branch budget, monitors income and expenditure, and prepares a balance sheet for the AGM and the Annual Returns.
The Welfare Officer has undertaken training as required by the Charity Commission so can advise on UNISON provision, eg, grants, loans convalescent homes, and can support members who wish to make applications for Welfare grants as well as signpost them to the many sources of help and advice available.
The Women's Officer helps acheive proportionality and fair representation, organises a womens group and identifies concerns, is a focal point of women's issues for members, liaises at regional and national level on women's issues, supports women members involved in harassment.
The Youth Officer assists with recruiting, organising, supporting and advising young members. Setting up activities on youth issues and talking to young people about the relevance of trade unions. Helping to raise awareness of workplace issues affecting young members.