Become a Steward / Representative
You can choose one or several of these roles, depending on your interest and time available.
Yes, you do….and it can open up lots of different opportunities to you!
All Stewards and Representatives are required to undertake UNISON training. We also require our Casework Stewards to undertake courses in handling grievances and disciplinary matters. This enables us to offer a professional service to our members.
Each role within the Branch has it's own job description and training and development route. You will also be allocated a Supporting Officer to help you develop and a buddy to help you ease in to your role/s.
You'll receive regular information on training courses covering a wide range of workplace issues. You will be released in paid time to attend training courses.
UNISON is YOUR
Get involved and help us make work a better place for all.
Please contact the Branch Office: suffolkcounty@btconnect.com
or telephone 01473 584333 for further information and an application pack.
With thanks for all you already you do on behalf of UNISON and kind regards
Helen Muddock
Branch Secretary.
Stewards and Representative Induction Training
What Are The Courses Like?
Unison courses are run in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Everybody’s views and experiences are valued and listened to. Most of the time you will be working with other people in small groups. You won’t be lectured or ‘put on the spot’.
What If I Have Responsibilities At Home?
Unison branches provide a care allowance for children and dependants if they need to be looked after while you are attending courses if you have incurred an additional cost. Details are available from Helen Muddock, your Branch Secretary.
Facilities For Disabled Members
We seek to ensure that the venues we use have adequate facilities for disabled members. Because of the wide varieties of facilitation required it is important that you let us know as soon as possible what you want and that you are specific about requirements.
Paid Time Off – Ask Management
You have a legal right to reasonable paid time off (see below) for training in your union industrial relations duties. You should give at least a few weeks notice and - if asked to - provide management with information about the content of the course. So, at the same time as sending off your application form to UNISON, ask management for time off using your local procedure. Don’t delay by waiting until your course place is confirmed. If you get resistance, ask for UNISON help through your branch.
Representatives of the union – stewards, health and safety representatives, lifelong learning reps and branch officials - are covered by legislation which allows time off with pay to attend education and training events. For stewards and branch officials this is covered by the Employment Rights Act 1996 section 61-62, for health and safety representatives by the Safety Representation and Safety Committee Regulations 1977, Lifelong Learning reps by the Employment Act 2002. A recently revised ACAS Code of Practice provides additional guidance on how the laws should be interpreted. If you have problems in getting time off then contact your Branch Education Co-ordinator or Branch Secretary.
Part Time Workers & Paid Time Off
If you attend a course for which paid time off is available and those course hours exceed those you normally work, you are entitled to receive pay or time off in lieu for those hours. Please ask your Branch Education Co-ordinator or Branch Secretary for help if you experience problems in exercising these rights. Also, don’t forget that if you incur additional childcare or dependent care costs, Unison branches provide an allowance to ensure you are not out of pocket.
Payment of travel and subsistence costs should be claimed from your branch. You should check with your Branch Education Co-ordinator or Branch Secretary to find out how to make a claim.
Courses usually commence at 9.30am and finish at 4.30pm. Occasionally, if a course is only run in one or two places in the Region e.g.
Course details will be provided to you when you are offered a place on a course. For the benefit of everyone you should try to attend all course sessions on time.
We try to run courses where we feel everyone has the opportunity to attend. Here’s a list of towns with the venues we use:-
• Bury St Edmunds – Unison Office, Lower Baxter Street, IP33 1ET
• Cambridge – Professional Development Centre, Foster Road, Trumpington, CB2 2NL
• Chelmsford – Chapter House, Church Lane (by Cathedral)
• Colchester – Colchester Institute, Sheepen Road, CO3 3LL
• Ipswich – St Edmunds House (County Hall), Ipswich
• Norwich – City College, 9 The Norwich Business Park, Whiting Road, Norwich, NR4 6DJ
Once you have become a Steward/Representative for our Branch, we will send you details of the next available Induction Course in your area. You must seek the approval of your branch before you can attend. Your completed and signed application form should then be sent to Helen Muddock, Branch Secretary, UNISON Office, St Peters House, 35, Rope Walk,
Course Fees Payable by Branches
There is no cost to you. Unless otherwise stated, the current (2008/2009 rates) cost to the branch for a Steward or Representative attending a course is £15 per day for courses run in Cambridge, (this fee includes lunch) and £10 per day for courses run in all other venues (no lunch provided because there are places nearby to buy lunch – you can claim subsistence from the Branch for this).
Cancellations
If for any reason you find that you cannot attend the course for which you have applied it is essential that you contact the Branch as soon as possible. If we do not notify Region of cancellation in advance, the Branch is charged the relevant course fee plus an extra charge of £60 for failure to attend without notice.
Education and Training Opportunities with the T.U.C
We work closely with the TUC’s education service and encourage Unison members to attend their courses after they have attended the Unison Induction courses. Many Unison activists ‘pick and mix’ Unison courses with TUC courses, especially their 10 day reps and safety reps courses, and so develop their own learning pathways.
Everyone who successfully completes a course organised through the UNISON Eastern Region Education Unit will receive a UNISON certificate. Additionally, for some courses you can also get credits under the Open College Network (see below).
Accreditation is the opportunity to gain educational credits under the Open College Network (OCN) equivalent to NVQs and GCSEs on trade union courses. You will be able to get credits for most but not all of the courses in the programme.
UNISON’s policy on accreditation is that it is up to individuals to decide whether or not they want to be assessed for credits. You shouldn’t be disadvantaged if you decide not to but clearly many members will welcome the chance to get recognition for the work they do on a union course. Assessment is based on what you do on the course. There is no exam. Assessment will be done by you, others on the course and the course tutor. Credits from several courses will qualify you to go into further or higher education.