Our elections
UNISON is proud to be a member-led union, where everyone has an equal voice
UNISON elections and democracy
We make decisions by voting to elect members to particular positions within UNISON.
Equality is at the heart of the union’s beliefs. Since women make up two-thirds of the UNISON’s membership, two-thirds of all of the union’s elected bodies must be women. We call this proportionality.
Two-thirds of the seats on the national executive council (NEC), the union’s ruling body, are also reserved for women and 13 seats are reserved for low-paid women.
All members are able to vote for these candidates in their regional or member group constituencies. All members are also able to vote for the national seats on the NEC for Black members and disabled members.
What positions are elected?
UNISON holds elections for its general secretary, NEC, service group executives (SGE) and for the Labour Link committee in England, Scotland and Wales. They decide on issues and campaigns, oversee the running of the union and work with UNISON staff to support members. They represent UNISON to the wider world.
Who can stand for election?
UNISON members can stand for election to a number of different bodies:
- the regional council;
- the service group executives;
- the national committees of our member groups;
- Labour Link members can stand for election as a regional Labour Link representative;
- the national executive council.
When are elections held?
The NEC, service group executive and Labour Link committee members are elected every two years by all eligible members of UNISON via a postal ballot.
The general secretary term of office is five years.
Contents:
Elected bodies and positions
How our 1.3 million members take part in the decisions that determine our work and priorities
| Our branches | UNISON members are automatically members of one of our branches and can elect representatives to carry out branch roles. |
| Our regions | Branches elect delegates to their regional council to work on regional policies. Each region elects delegates to attend our national delegate conference to agree our national priorities and to national executive council to decide on our policies. |
| Our service groups | Our service groups represent members from the same service group in national bargaining. Every full member is entitled to vote – and stand for election – for our national service group executive. The term of office is two years. And every member has the right to seek election to represent branch colleagues at their annual service group conference. |
| Our self-organised groups | Branches are encouraged to set up self-organised member groups to challenge discrimination. Branch groups feed into regional groups, which elect two delegates to our national equality groups. |
| National delegate conference | All groups of members are represented at our annual national delegate conference where we debate our policies and campaigning priorities. |
| National executive council | All full members are entitled to vote for our national executive council (NEC), the union’s ruling body, with two-thirds of seats reserved for women and 13 for low-paid women. Members vote for candidates in their regional or member group constituencies. All members are also able to vote for the national seats on the NEC for Black members and disabled members. The term of office is two years. |
| President and vice-presidents | Each year the NEC elects the president of the union from among its members to chair NEC meetings and preside over the union’s national delegate conference. It also elects two vice-presidents to fulfil these duties if the president is absent. |
| General secretary | Every member is entitled to vote for our general secretary. The term of office is five years. |
| UNISON link to the Labour Party | Regional Labour Link committees ensure that UNISON’s priorities are heard by the Labour Party. The national Labour Link committee includes NEC members and elected regional representatives in England, Scotland and Wales. The term of office is two years. |
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