Job Descriptions for Branch Officerships

ESSEX COUNTY BRANCH UNISON – BRANCH OFFICERSHIPS

The job descriptions below are taken from (in some cases in an edited form)
UNISON’s National Code of Good Branch Practice http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/20230.pdf. Where there are references to UNISON’s National rules these can be found at www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/15817.pdf.

There are no job descriptions for the posts of Assistant Branch Secretary and
Assistant Branch Treasurer as the roles will be as detailed under the Branch
Secretary/ Treasurer respectively and the work agreed between post holders. The post of Newsletter/ Magazine editor is defined within the national post of
Communications Officer and again work will be shared as agreed between post
holders.

11.3.2 PRESIDENT

Tasks relating to the office of Branch President

to preside at all meetings of the branch in accordance with the guidance given in Section 3.2 of the Code of Good Branch Practice
to agree the agenda for General Meetings with the secretary
to ensure that business is properly conducted
to advise the branch officers and branch committee in respect of matters relating to procedure and interpretation of rules
to ensure that all functions of the branch are carried out
to work closely with the secretary to provide leadership to the branch.

11.3.3 SECRETARY

The branch secretary (rule G4.2,) is responsible for ensuring the proper completion of the following tasks. It is not expected that the branch secretary will personally undertake all these functions but will act as the strategic lead
officer and co-ordinator within the branch. The secretary will encourage partnership working within the branch committee and the development of new representatives, will be the manager of branch staff and will manage the delegation of work to other branch officers and branch staff as appropriate, whilst providing support and guidance.

The Branch Secretary will be expected to have detailed knowledge of the Single status agreement with Essex County Council and to lead corporate level negotiations and collective bargaining on a range of terms and conditions.

It is not expected that the Branch Secretary will handle individual casework though (s)he will be expected to support and advise other officers and stewards in this.

The postholder will represent the branch in discussions with Councillors both for UNISON specifically and through the Joint Union Steering Team.

The Branch Secretary will be the first point of contact for complaints from members, whether received directly or through other sections of UNISON and must be able to respond in a professional manner.

The post is mostly office based but the postholder will need to have access to their own transport) the Branch will pay travel expenses in line with UNISON guidelines.

Tasks relating to the office of branch secretary:

to guide the branch’s development through the preparation and implementation of a branch organisation and development plan
to ensure the representation of members within the branch in accordance with national guidance (see UNISON guide to representation, www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/14975.pdf) and that case forms and applications for services forwarded to UNISON offices are properly completed and authorised
to provide strategic leadership to the branch committee on implementing campaigning and lobbying activity on branch and wider UNISON objectives, working in liaison especially with the branch Labour Link officer and branch Communications officer
to convene and attend all meetings of the branch and branch committee.
to arrange for the minutes of meetings to be kept in a proper manner and circulated to all branch officers and stewards
to arrange for branch records to be kept in a proper manner
to ensure the branch, speedily and accurately, processes applications for membership and maintains records in accordance with UNISON’s systems
to ensure regular communication with the members of the branch with news of campaigns, negotiations, issues, branch developments and activities
to communicate with the union’s regional and head offices on behalf of the branch
to ensure that branch members are aware of opportunities to participate in the activities of the wider union, or within self-organisation if appropriate
to support, mentor and encourage the stewards in the branch on an individual and collective basis. The branch secretary should seek to maintain regular contact with each steward to discuss issues and workplace organisation
to ensure that members and stewards are aware, and take advantage, of educational and training opportunities within UNISON
to ensure that appropriate publicity activities are developed and co-ordinated by the branch
to act as spokesperson for the branch when in contact with other levels of the union and external organisations
to ensure that members receive the benefits, rights and services to which they are entitled
to co-ordinate all branch negotiations and industrial relations matters
to ensure, in conjunction with the branch committee, that the branch observes the union’s
rules, supports UNISON campaigns and works towards achieving UNISON’s objectives
to ensure the proper management and direction of any branch employed staff.

11.3.4 TREASURER

Tasks relating to the office of Branch Treasurer. Refer also to the Branch
Finances Handbook www.unison.org.uk/acrobatBranchFinanceshandbookFinal.pdf

to conduct the branch’s financial business
to be the key signatory authorising any item of branch expenditure
to keep accounts in accordance with the rules
to provide reports on the financial position of the branch to the branch committee or branch executive committee
to provide a detailed financial report for the annual branch meeting(s)
to advise the branch officers and branch committee in respect of matters relating to financial management and appropriate expenditure
to provide an audited annual return of branch income.

Note. The same person cannot hold both the positions of Treasurer and Branch Secretary.

11.3.5 EDUCATION CO-ORDINATOR

Tasks relating to the post of branch education co-ordinator:

to make sure all new stewards and safety representatives receive initial information and guidance about their duties, e.g. stewards handbook, rulebook, service conditions agreements, etc
to publicise the range of educational and training opportunities available to members and activists
to get untrained stewards, safety representatives and other branch officers onto appropriate training courses
to co-ordinate and support the work of learning representatives
to encourage branch members and activists to make use of the UNISON Open College courses, especially ‘Return to Learn’ and ‘Women, Work and Society’
to maintain contact with the regional education officer/regional education committee
to establish a plan of training for activists and to produce an annual budget to meet its costs
to keep records of what training has been undertaken and by whom within the branch
to make sure that activists get paid time off for training where appropriate.

11.3.6 LIFELONG LEARNING CO-ORDINATOR

A branch with a number of learning representatives working as a team, led by a co-ordinator, can ensure that learning representatives are accountable and
involved in the branch; that learning is high on the branch’s agenda and linked
into its organising, bargaining and equalities work; and can provide a clear
progression route for learning representatives who want to become more involved in other aspects of branch activity.

Tasks relating to the post of branch lifelong learning co-ordinator:

to work closely with the branch education Co-ordinator (the same person may take on both roles)
to co-ordinate the activity of learning representatives in the branch education team
to work with colleagues to recruit new learning representatives
to be closely involved in negotiating around learning with the employer
to co-ordinate and disseminate information on learning opportunities in the branch
to ensure that the work of learning representatives is fully integrated into the branch.

11.3.7 EQUALITY OFFICER(S)

All UNISON representatives should promote equality and challenge discrimination in their union role. Equality Co-ordinators, whilst not expected to be an expert on all equality matters, lead and co-ordinate the branch’s equality work. The Equality Co-ordinator is not a representative of self-organised groups but is elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting. They are however expected to work with representatives of self-organised groups, with equality representatives and all activists. They support the training and development of other union representatives and monitor progress. Branch Equality Co-ordinators should share good practice where there are multiple workplace representatives within branches.

Branches can elect equality representatives for each of their work groups. The role of the equality rep is to promote equality and challenge discrimination in their local area, keeping the Branch Equality Co-ordinator updated on developments.

Key tasks for the Equality Co-ordinator include:

To be the central liaison point for equality in the branch and to distribute information on equality issues;
To co-ordinate and support the work of UNISON equality reps at branch level;
To liaise with and support branch self organised groups;
To promote an equality dimension in all the branch’s work, including bargaining;
To advise branch officers and the branch committee on proportionality and fair representation, including in branch elections;
To act as a mentor or buddy to new equality reps and to help them identify their training needs.

11.3.8 HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER

Tasks relating to the post of health and safety officer:

to increase the awareness of members, health and safety representatives and branch officers of health and safety issues
to organise the information held by the branch on health and safety
to co-ordinate the activity of health and safety representatives and to organise regular meetings of health & safety representatives to exchange information and consider priorities
to be closely involved in all negotiations with the employer on matters related to health and safety
to advise the branch committee on health and safety issues arising in the branch and to recommend policies and priorities
to act as a link between the health and safety representatives and other branch representatives to ensure that health and safety issues are treated as an integral part of the work of the branch
to maintain contact with the region and regional service groups, for example via the regional health and safety committee.

11.3.9 COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Tasks relating to the post of branch communications officer:

to explain UNISON’s policies and to provide the information members need to play an active role in their union
to assist with efforts to recruit new members
to help support UNISON’s national and regional campaigns
to help create a positive image for the branch among members, potential members and the public
to produce news-sheets or bulletins for distribution to branch members.
to lead on the development of electronic communication with members – email, web, etc
to routinely and regularly contact convenors and stewards to check for news and to update the branch’s website and/or e-bulletins
to ensure branch communications are in the accessible formats members need – audit for any particular requirements such as large print/Braille etc
to ensure that nationally and regionally produced publicity and campaign materials are distributed, as appropriate, to stewards and onward to members and non-members
to monitor local media for stories which affect the branch and take appropriate action
to help ensure that the branch makes effective contact with the media whenever necessary by:
- creating and maintaining mailing lists to media outlets and
  contacts
- writing press releases
- ensuring that appropriate individuals within the branch are
  available for comments, interviews, etc
- writing ‘letters to the editor’.

11.3.10 MEMBERSHIP OFFICER

Tasks relating to the post of membership officer:

to map the branch’s membership in order to identify membership density and steward coverage
to monitor the branch’s recruitment, and also leavers rate
to work with the branch committee to develop and implement its organisation and development plan
to make recommendations to the branch committee on recruitment activities, targets, resources, budgets, etc.

11.3.11 INTERNATIONAL OFFICER

Tasks relating to the post of international officer:

to co-ordinate the branch’s work on international relations
to ensure that branch members are informed of national policy on international matters
to receive and distribute relevant information
to encourage members to be aware of the importance of international solidarity issues within the context of the overall work of the union
to liaise where appropriate with regional international structures and to ensure that the views of the branch on international activities are reported appropriately
to liaise with other branch officers concerning publicity and education on international issues
to liaise with the solidarity organisations and campaigns that UNISON is affiliated to
to encourage members of the branch to take action and participate in international solidarity activities organised nationally or regionally
to ensure that information on branch activity is shared at regional and national level
to seek to develop an international perspective among members, stewards and branch officers.

11.3.12 YOUNG MEMBERS’ OFFICER

The role of the branch young members’ officer is ideal for someone who is
interested in becoming more active in the union. The post may be a stepping
stone to becoming a steward or taking on wider roles.

Tasks relating to the post of young members’ officer:

to recruit new members and to encourage existing young members to become active in the branch
to make sure issues of concern to young workers are raised by the branch
to act as a focal point for all young workers in the branch and workplaces
to receive and distribute UNISON young members information
to encourage involvement in UNISON young members campaigns
to build branch young members organisation and to ensure there are potential new young members’ officers in the future.

Other branch officers will assist in these tasks.

Branch young members’ officer must be under 27 years of age for the whole of their term of office.

11.3.13 LABOUR LINK OFFICER

The Labour Link officer is elected and accountable to the Labour Link section
within the branch and must be an individual member of the Labour Party – this is because the post holder should work to take UNISON policy forward in the party, often being a delegate to the general committee of the party and
encouraging joint work and campaigning with the local constituency Labour Party (CLP).

The branch UNISON Labour Link officer is the key contact point for information About regional and national UNISON Labour Link matters and is responsible for co-ordinating our activities in the branch. They also represent the interests of Labour Link levy payers on the UNISON branch committee.

The Labour Link officer will receive support, training and advice on their role and responsibilities from their regional political officer.

Tasks relating to the post of Labour Link officer:

to explain and develop the role of the UNISON Labour Link within the branch and ensure that correct procedures are followed regarding the rights of Labour Link levy payers
to receive correspondence and information on Labour Link matters from national and regional levels and from the Labour Party
to circulate information to Labour Link members in the branch and convene meetings of members as necessary
to attend the UNISON branch committee and agree appropriate means of promoting UNISON policy in the party
to organise elections for branch UNISON Labour Link representation within the regional Labour Link as necessary and ensure reports are made by branch delegates on their activities on behalf of members
to liaise with the Labour Link regional political officer
to promote political education and policy discussions
to strengthen links with local Labour Parties by affiliating to constituencies and electing delegates to attend meetings
to communicate with Labour Party members within the branch and encourage individual membership of the Labour Party
to build campaigning work around key issues and co-ordinate campaigns with the Labour Party in council, Westminster, and European elections.

11.3.14 RETIRED MEMBERS’ SECRETARY

The role of the retired members’ secretary (rule D6.2) is to enable retired members of the branch to continue to be active in the union through the branch’s retired members’ section.

Tasks relating to the post of retired members’ secretary:

to ensure that those members approaching retirement have the opportunity to become retired members
to organise meetings of the branch retired members
to encourage the participation of retired members in branch activities as appropriate
to establish links with other retirement organisations in the area
to attend meetings of the branch committee (rule D6.3)
to submit a budget to the branch committee to fund retired member activities
to ensure that the retired members’ section functions in accordance with UNISON Rule and any branch standing orders and procedures.

To be a branch retired members’ secretary, you must be eligible for retired
membership under Rule C2.6.1.

11.3.15 WELFARE OFFICER

Tasks relating to the post of branch welfare officer(www.unison.org.uk/welfare):

to ensure that branch officers, stewards and workplace representatives, and also employers, have regular up-to date-information about UNISON Welfare and its range of services
to ensure that membersseeking welfare assistance receive a prompt, supportive and effective response
to liaise and co-ordinate with regional and national levels to ensure that UNISON
Welfare support is provided effectively
to undertake training and seek advice from UNISON Welfare where necessary
to develop and implement local welfare activity
to develop links with local charities and sources of support such as Citizen’s Advice Bureau and women’s refuges.

11.3.16 AUDITOR

The role of the auditor is to act on behalf of the branch’s members to ensure
probity and that all branch expenditure is underpinned by democratic decisions made in accordance with UNISON rule. A candidate for the post of auditor cannot be a member of the branch committee.

Tasks relating to the post of branch auditor (www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B3012.pdf ):