About Unison

UNISON members are people working in the public services, for private contractors providing public services and the essential utilities. They include manual and white collar staff working full or part time in local authorities, the NHS, colleges and schools, the electricity, gas and water industries, transport and the voluntary sector.

What is Unison?

Unison is you and your colleagues and people like you. Shop stewards are ordinary workers like you who take on the task of organising the union in each workplace. We need a steward in each workplace so that we can recruit new members, liaise with the management to sort out problems and to deal with problems as they arise. Anyone can be a steward, and every workplace needs a steward. Stewards support each other and have access to training, information and support from other stewards and the branch. If there isn't a steward in your workplace, please volunteer. We can't effectively represent workers without stewards. Call the Unison office for more information.

Most people join a union because they want protection at work - help with pay and conditions of service, legal or health and safety advice or representation in case things go wrong at work. That's what we're here for. UNISON negotiates on pay and working conditions at every level - local, regional and national. But we also do a lot more. Being a UNISON member gives you a range of benefits and unbeatable deals.

Every member of UNISON belongs to a local branch which is made up of people working for the same employer.

Local stewards are there to represent you at work and help find the answers to your problems. They are volunteers and play a vital role in recruiting new members and organising your branch. If you have a problem, talk to your local steward. If they can't handle the problem on their own, they can talk to other branch officers or full-time union experts on your behalf.

Anyone can face problems at work sometimes but if you are a member of UNISON, you don't have to face them alone. We can provide advice or representation on things like pay, rotas, leave and sickness procedures. We are also there to help you make sure your workplace is healthy and safe, support you in case of disciplinary action, dismissals or redundancy.

Unison negotiates for pay rises and working conditions but also provides free debt counselling, free wills and legal services. See our "Membership Services" page for a full listing of all the benefits of being a member.

Principles

Unions were formed to protect workers' rights. It's easy to forget today that many people fought and died for the right to form unions, but even today trade unionists are being persecuted in many countries -- many have been assassinated in Columbia. Unions are about defending each other and taking a stand when fellow workers are in trouble: an injury to one is an injury to all. Unions are organised by shop stewards who represent the members in their workplaces. Stewards are unpaid volunteers who distribute information about the union, encourage people to join and help union members when they are having trouble at work. We need stewards in every workplace so if there isn't a steward in your team, please volunteer. There's lots of training, support and advice available and you are allowed time off for union activities. Contact the branch office or another local steward for details.

This site is designed on computers powered only by clean, green electricity from Good Energy (www.good-energy.co.uk).