Participate in your trade union
Participate in your union
Engage with union democratic structures
UNISON has a layered structure to ensure democracy and strength in our union. Your branch is always your home base, where you can participate through member meetings including AGMs, and interacting with your branch.
But you may also want to directly engage with:
Your Service Group (Higher Education)
Stand up for your sector, your peers, or for everyone
You may be passionate about many social and civil causes we have campaigns and active networks for, including on climate change, outsourcing, migrant rights, or austerity.
Shape policy and motions
UNISON is a member led union, which means our members decide our policies through participating in conferences, raising, discussing and voting on motions and rules, and through running elections.
Members are encouraged and funded to participate in conferences -- you can be a visitor instead of a delegate just to dip your toes.
Childcare and other caring responsibilities
If you have childcare or other caring responsibilities and you are attending training or a conference away from home or when you would not normally be at work, UNISON bodies or your branch will provide a crèche or cover the cost of care.
Accessibility requirements
UNISON training will provide course materials in large print or Braille, or printed on coloured paper, and provide facilitation on UNISON courses, as long as your requirements are clear when you complete the course or conference application form.
Paid time off and at no costs to you
Stewards, health and safety reps and union learning reps have the right to paid time off for training in their union duties in workplaces. This includes part-time activists and also applies to online courses. Travel and meal costs tend to be covered by your branch or another UNISON body. National or certain regional events can also arrange overnight accommodation for you when necessary.