Being a rep

The role of an active member is a good starting point to get involved in the union. They let their branch know what’s happening in their workplace and help the union get messages to its members. They:
 

• share information with colleagues and other UNISON members;
   
• keep notice boards up to date with UNISON information;
   
• have regular conversations with members in the workplace;
   
• support people looking to join UNISON.
   

Active members play an important role in helping groups of members to organise effectively.  

If you want to help members have a stronger union at work, you could think about  getting elected as a steward.  

Workplace stewards are the heart of our trade union. They represent the interests of members in their work group or workplace in any grievance, dispute or negotiations. 

They help to organise colleagues into an effective, strong and welcoming membership, and often also hold roles as reps within an organisation. They:
 

• are the first point of contact for members in a workplace;
   
• talk to members about the union;
   
• talk to staff about their issues;
   
• offer advice on issues at work;
   
• represent members in cases (including at disciplinary and grievance hearings);
   
• campaign for better working conditions;
   
• recruit and organise new members;
   
• encourage more members to get active in UNISON;
   
• raise members’ issues with the branch.
   

Stewards complete specific training around the Employment Relations Act (ERA).

Workplace environmental representatives aim to raise awareness and ensure that the workforce is involved in environmental policies and actions to ‘green the workplace’. 

Organisations are far better placed than individuals to install cost-effective green measures and agree collective ways to change our behaviour at work – such as through recycling schemes. 

Union action to green the workplace can help ensure that financial savings from resource and energy efficiency ease the pressure on other costs and helps to protect jobs. The need to strengthen the link between sustainable workplaces and sustainable jobs has never been more urgent. They:
 

• raise staff awareness and encourage behavioural change to workplace practices;
   
• ensure that green issues are considered in operational procedures;
   
• promote staff consultation in ‘greening the workplace’;
   
• monitor the effectiveness of environmental policies and provide staff input.

Equality representatives aim to make sure people are treated fairly at work and do not suffer from discrimination on grounds such as race, gender, sexuality, gender identity, disability, age, creed or social class. They:
 

• work with their branch to improve workplace and employer equality policies;
   
• campaign for equality in the workplace and the union;
   
• promote national campaigns such as International Women’s Day, LGBT History Month and Black History Month;
   
• Work with other reps to ensure their branch is inclusive and accessible;
   
• raise awareness of and talk to members about UNISON’s self-organised groups and forums.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted why workplace health and safety is so important. But we can’t make workplaces across the public sector safe without YOU.

The words health and safety may conjure up visions of clipboards, regulations and paperwork, but it’s really not like that.

Being a health and safety rep means you will be playing a crucial role in making sure your workplace is safe, healthy, and secure for all your colleagues and service users.

You’ll also gain new skills and meet others who are passionate about workplace safety.
 

What do health and safety reps do?

They:

• talk to members about their health and safety issues and work together with management to resolve these issues;
   
• investigate potential hazards;
   
• raise concerns with your employer to improve safety in the workplace and deal with specific problems that arise at work;
   
• promote better health and safety in the workplace and encourage everyone to get involved in the union – UNISON is the union that gets things done.
   

How do I become a health and safety rep?

Ideally you should have reasonable experience of your workplace and how the work is done. We don’t expect you to be an expert we’ll train you in every aspect of the role. You’ll be supported all the way either by your branch or by one of our union organisers from your regional office, who will be able to answer your questions or help get you the additional advice.

Although there is legally no training required, your branch may ask you to undertake some training to help you undertake the role . Trade union health and safety reps are entitled to paid time off for training. Your branch will help in getting this agreed by your employer.

UNISON training courses are designed to remove barriers, helping you learn and develop the skills you need to carry out your roles and to ensure that you can perform it with confidence regardless of any previous educational history.

We try to provide various training options through a mixture of online, virtual and in person teaching, including a short introductory course, you’ll have a chance to chat with other new health and safety reps and get more one to one time with the tutor if you need it. There are also other specialist courses, on different topics including one on mental health.

All courses are free for you to attend, (although there may be a charge to the branch).

A UNISON learning representative (ULR) promotes learning, supports colleagues with opportunities, identifies training needs, and works with the employer to organize learning in the workplace.  

Their role involves raising awareness about the value of learning for both professional and personal development, assisting members with issues like basic skills or career changes, and helping to build a stronger union through learning initiatives.  

Union learning representatives (ULRs) are passionate about getting people back into learning – whether it is professional qualifications or basic numeracy and literacy skills.

They:

• find out how lifelong learning could help to resolve issues at work;
   
• promote learning in a workplace;
   
• support members to take up learning opportunities;
   
• encourage adult learners to be active branch members;
   
• organise workers around learning;
   
• recruit new learning reps.