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Unison Cymru/Wales Gas Branch
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Do more with your union - become active!
(21/12/07) Want to meet new people, learn new skills and go
places?
Be active in UNISON and you'll get a lot more out of your union.
Getting involved means:
• Helping make a difference
• Getting together with work friends and colleagues and meeting new
people
• Doing things you usually couldn't or wouldn't do alone
• New opportunities for education, training and personal development
• Helping yourself and improving your life at work, home and the
wider world
• Having fun and doing something you enjoy
Become a UNISON Health and Safety steward and/or a UNISON
Workplace Representative!!!
Health & Safety Representative - A UNISON health and safety
rep helps to make sure that people's jobs and their workplaces do
not cause injury or ill-health.
UNISON members believe health and safety is the most important issue
at work. Health and safety can be a matter of life and death.
Health and safety reps work to make the workplace as safe as
possible. They can:
• Make representations to the employer on behalf of members on any
health, safety and welfare matter
• Represent members in consultation with Health and Safety Executive
inspectors or other enforcing authorities
• Inspect designated workplace areas at least every three months
• Investigate any potential hazards, complaints by members and
causes of accidents, dangerous occurrences and diseases
Like stewards, safety reps are chosen by union members. UNISON
provides special introductory and follow up courses for health and
safety reps.
Where can I find useful information and resources?
• Go to
Health and Safety Resources
• UNISON's employment advice website
troubleatwork.org.uk offers useful health and safety information
for members.
Your help is needed.
If you would like to find out more, please contact us.
Workplace Contact – This is an ideal role for someone who is interested in becoming a steward or safety rep and wants to find out more about what's involved.
What do workplace contacts do?
UNISON workplace contacts play different support roles in the workplace, including:
• Making sure members receive union and other important information
• Helping groups of members to organise effectively
• Maintaining contact between members and the union where there is an elected steward
• Supporting other activists such as stewards and health and safety reps
Workplace contacts have a more informal role than stewards or safety representatives. They can also operate as part of a network supporting an elected steward.
Where can I get support and advice?
Your own steward, your health and safety rep and your branch are all there to help and support you in whatever you are able to contribute. You can also get advice from regional offices where necessary.
The union will make sure you:
• Receive regular UNISON information
• Are encouraged and enabled to get involved in branch work
• Get training and access to education, including induction courses for members considering becoming more involved
• Know where to go for advice on dealing with workplace problems
Most branches can give workplace contacts training and support through practical experience, for example, by inviting them to observe and assist in advising and organising members and in meetings with management.
How do I become a UNISON workplace contact?
Any group of members can elect a workplace contact. This group is known as the workplace contact's constituency.
Members don't need to hold an election but should find some way of agreeing on who the contact should be.
Stewards may wish to encourage a colleague to become a workplace contact, either to assist with stewards' work or to encourage them to become more active in the future.
Workplace Representative – A UNISON steward is an elected
rep who helps organise, recruit and represent members in their
workplace.
Stewards are the backbone of UNISON. Without stewards there would be
no one there to act as the link between members and the union and to
organise and support people in the workplace.
What does a UNISON steward do?
As a steward you can:
• Talk to, recruit and organise members around workplace issues
• Talk to members about workplace problems, advice them and keep
them informed of latest developments
• Represent members in your workplace
• Be involved in how your branch and union is run.
Will I have to negotiate with my employer?
It helps if stewards go to meetings with employers - it's usually
the best way to talk to them! But you won't be forced to do anything
you don't want to do and we will offer you training and backup.
Some stewards may be involved in local negotiations or in grievance
or disciplinary cases - with training and support from the union.
Senior stewards or convenors often take part in negotiations about
pay and conditions with employers.
What if I'm worried I can't do everything?
Different stewards get involved in different activities depending on
experience, skills and time factors.
UNISON is very much in favour of job sharing for stewards. This way
you can spread the load, work together and support each other. Job
sharing should be agreed with your branch.
You could also consider becoming a workplace contact and see how
much you're willing and able to do.
Do I get any training?
All new stewards are encouraged to go on an induction course and on
a course for handling grievances and disciplinary matters.
You'll receive regular information on training courses covering a
wide range of workplace issues. These are normally run at regional
level.
Who can I go to for support and advice?
Colleagues, workplace contacts and more experienced stewards, health
and safety reps and branch officers will all help you.
How do I get hold of information and resources?
• UNISON's produces guides and information sheets on negotiating
issues, including a monthly news sheet called Bargaining Update
available from
Bargaining
Support.
• You'll find free online employment advice for members and the
public at our website
www.troubleatwork.org.uk
• UNISON's magazine inFocus will keep you up to date with all the
latest news and developments. Go to
inFocus
• U magazine is the magazine for all UNISON members, including
stewards. Go to
U magazine.
If you would like to find out more, please contact us.
Help YOUR union today!
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