Regions
UNISON is divided into 12 regions across the UK. A region is the main link between local branches and with UNISON’s national executive council
What is a region
UNISON has 12 regions that cover the UK.
Each region is composed of lay officers and full-time organisers who work together on behalf of members and to promote the union’s local and national objectives.
- Cymru/Wales
- East Midlands
- Eastern
- Greater London
- North West
- Northern Ireland
- Northern
- Scotland
- South East
- South West
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire & Humberside
Our regional staff offices
Each region has a regional office, staffed by full-time union organisers. They support the work of local branches and liaise with head office.
The regional office develops and supports:
- representation of members;
- organising and member recruitment;
- local and national campaigning;
- priorities and strategies for negotiating and bargaining;
- actions against discrimination;
- education and training opportunities for members.
The regional team also makes sure that the members are fairly represented in the branch structures and when they send delegates to national conference. Finally, they ensure that the union has a voice on outside bodies, such as the TUC regional council.
The regional secretary is UNISON’s senior organiser in each region.
Local organisers
Your local organiser works closely with branches on recruitment and campaigning, and with area organisers in the regional centre. They make sure all members feel part of their branch and actively involved.
Area organisers
Area organisers are responsible for ensuring that our branches are strong and well-organised. They support the regional organisers in representing members in collective negotiations.
Regional organisers
Regional organisers play a leadership role in the union, and act as advocates of the organisation and its reputation both to members and in the wider world of employment and politics. They oversee the work of the local and area organisers and work with the regional secretary to implement national policy in their region, and to develop campaign strategies.
The full-time organisers also liaise with UNISON’s general secretary and head office to implement the union’s national policy objectives, set by members at the national delegates conference every year. Regional organisers enter in negotiations with employers and representing members in collective negotiations.
Equality officers
In each regional office, equality officers specialise in discrimination issues of all kinds. There is a member of staff who is a contact for each of the member and self-organised groups. These represent: black members, women, young members, retired members, disabled members and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members.
Education officers
Regional education officers make sure that members have access to education and training opportunities.
More information on regional responsibilities are published in the UNISON rulebook.
How regions organise around members
Elected lay members carry out roles in parallel to staff officers.
Every region has a regional council which makes decisions on regional policies. Regional councils are made up of delegates from all branches in the region, as well as representatives from member groups and service groups.
Each regional council must have at least one meeting for members every year, usually their annual general meeting. The senior lay person in each region is the convenor, elected by the regional council.