unison rule book 2019

0.51 MB·

2019
as amended at the 2019 conference
UNISON Rulebook

Contents
Rules marked with * are 2019 amendments
A INTRODUCTORY 1
1 NAME OF THE UNION ___________________________________________________ 1
2 INTERPRETATION OF RULES ______________________________________________ 1
3 ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY ____________________________________________ 1
*B AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 2
1 AT WORK AND IN THE COMMUNITY ________________________________________ 2
*2 UNION DEMOCRACY ___________________________________________________ 2
3 SERVICE TO MEMBERS _________________________________________________ 3
4 GENERAL ___________________________________________________________ 3
*C MEMBERSHIP 4
1 SCOPE OF REPRESENTATION _____________________________________________ 4
2 CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP ____________________________________________ 4
2.2 SUBSCRIPTIONS ______________________________________________________ 4
2.3 FULL MEMBERSHIP ____________________________________________________ 4
2.4 UNEMPLOYED MEMBERS ________________________________________________ 4
2.5 MEMBERS IN EDUCATION________________________________________________ 5
2.6 RETIRED MEMBERS ____________________________________________________ 5
2.7 HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS ______________________________________________ 5
2.8 HONORARY MEMBERS __________________________________________________ 5
2.9 EMPLOYEES OF THE UNION ______________________________________________ 6
3 ALLOCATION TO CATEGORIES ____________________________________________ 6
4 MEMBERS’ BENEFITS___________________________________________________ 6
5 BECOMING A MEMBER _________________________________________________ 6
*6 OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP ___________________________________________ 7
7 CEASING TO BE A MEMBER ______________________________________________ 7
7.1 LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY ___________________________________________________ 7
7.2 ARREARS OF SUBSCRIPTIONS ____________________________________________ 7
7.3 RESIGNATION ________________________________________________________ 7
7.4 SUSPENSION _________________________________________________________ 8
7.5 EXPULSION __________________________________________________________ 8
7.6 TERMINATION ________________________________________________________ 8
8 THE UNION’S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP AUDIT ___________________________________ 8
*D STRUCTURE OF THE UNION AT NATIONAL LEVEL 9
1 NATIONAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE ________________________________________ 9
1.2 SPECIAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE _________________________________________ 9
1.3 COMPOSITION ________________________________________________________ 9
1.4 PROPORTIONALITY AND FAIR REPRESENTATION ______________________________ 10
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1.5 REPRESENTATION OF YOUNG MEMBERS ____________________________________ 10
1.6 SHARED DELEGATES __________________________________________________ 10
1.7 THE RIGHT TO ATTEND AND SPEAK _______________________________________ 10
1.8 STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE__________________________________________ 10
1.9 CONFERENCE TIMETABLE ______________________________________________ 11
1.10 CONFERENCE QUORUM AND PROCEDURE ___________________________________ 11
2 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL __________________________________________ 11
2.1 FUNCTIONS AND AUTHORITY ____________________________________________ 11
2.2 REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ___________________________________________ 11
2.3 SERVICE GROUP REPRESENTATIVES _______________________________________ 12
2.4 BLACK MEMBERS’ SEATS ______________________________________________ 12
2.5 YOUNG MEMBERS’ SEATS ______________________________________________ 13
2.6 DISABLED MEMBERS’ SEATS ____________________________________________ 13
2.7 ELECTIONS _________________________________________________________ 13
2.8 FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS ______________________________________________ 13
2.9 COMMITTEES _______________________________________________________ 13
2.10 MEETINGS _________________________________________________________ 13
2.11 POWERS ___________________________________________________________ 13
2.12 EMPLOYMENT OF STAFF _______________________________________________ 14
2.13 POWER TO ACT BETWEEN MEETINGS ______________________________________ 14
2.14 PROPORTIONALITY AND FAIR REPRESENTATION ______________________________ 14
3 SERVICE GROUPS ____________________________________________________ 15
3.2 MEMBERSHIP _______________________________________________________ 15
3.3 NATIONAL STRUCTURES _______________________________________________ 15
3.4 SERVICE GROUP CONFERENCE ___________________________________________ 15
3.5 SERVICE GROUP EXECUTIVE _____________________________________________ 17
3.6 REGIONAL STRUCTURE ________________________________________________ 18
3.7 SECTORS __________________________________________________________ 18
3.8 POLICY FORMULATION _________________________________________________ 18
4 PRIVATE CONTRACTOR NATIONAL FORUM __________________________________ 19
*5 SELF-ORGANISED GROUPS______________________________________________ 19
*6 YOUNG MEMBERS’ ORGANISATION ________________________________________ 21
7 RETIRED MEMBERS’ ORGANISATION _______________________________________ 21
8 ELECTIONS _________________________________________________________ 22
E PRINCIPAL OFFICERS 23
1 PRESIDENT _________________________________________________________ 23
2 VICE-PRESIDENTS ____________________________________________________ 23
3 GENERAL SECRETARY _________________________________________________ 23
F REGIONS 24
1 LIST OF REGIONS ____________________________________________________ 24
2 ALLOCATION OF BRANCHES TO REGIONS ___________________________________ 24
3 FUNCTIONS OF REGIONS _______________________________________________ 24
2 CONTENTS – UNISON RULES 2019
4 REGIONAL COUNCIL ___________________________________________________ 25
5 REGIONAL COMMITTEE ________________________________________________ 26
6 PROPORTIONALITY AND FAIR REPRESENTATION ______________________________ 26
*G BRANCHES 27
1 BRANCH ORGANISATION _______________________________________________ 27
2 THE BRANCH COMMITTEE ______________________________________________ 27
*3 BRANCH MEETINGS ___________________________________________________ 28
*4 BRANCH OFFICERS ___________________________________________________ 28
*4.2 THE BRANCH SECRETARY ______________________________________________ 29
4.3 THE BRANCH TREASURER ______________________________________________ 29
5 STEWARDS _________________________________________________________ 29
6 LEARNING REPRESENTATIVES ___________________________________________ 30
7 HEALTH AND SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES ___________________________________ 30
8 EQUALITY REPRESENTATIVES ___________________________________________ 30
9 VISITS BY EMPLOYED OFFICIALS TO BRANCHES ______________________________ 31
10 BRANCHES _________________________________________________________ 31
H COLLECTION OF SUBSCRIPTIONS
AND FINANCING OF BRANCHES 32
1 RECORDS OF MEMBERS _______________________________________________ 32
2 PAYMENT OF SUBSCRIPTIONS TO HEAD OFFICE ______________________________ 32
3 BRANCH’S RIGHT TO A “FLOAT” __________________________________________ 32
4 PAYMENTS TO BRANCHES ______________________________________________ 32
5 SUBSCRIPTION APPEALS COMMITTEE ______________________________________ 33
6 LOCAL LEVIES _______________________________________________________ 33
I DISCIPLINARY ACTION 34
J THE POLITICAL FUND 36
1 RULES FOR THE FUND _________________________________________________ 36
2 ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND __________________________________________ 37
3 RULES THAT APPLY BEFORE 1 MARCH 2018 ________________________________ 38
4 RULES THAT APPLY ON OR AFTER 1 MARCH 2018 ___________________________ 40
5 NORTHERN IRELAND __________________________________________________ 42
K LEGAL ASSISTANCE 45
QUALIFICATIONS _____________________________________________________ 45
CONDITIONS ________________________________________________________ 46
L MEMBERS’ BENEFITS 47
M FINANCIAL AND LEGAL 48
1 TRUSTEES OF THE UNION ______________________________________________ 48
1.1 ELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT __________________________________________ 48
1.2 DISQUALIFICATION FROM APPOINTMENT____________________________________ 48
1.3 FIRST TRUSTEES _____________________________________________________ 48
1.4 APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES ____________________________________________ 48
UNISON RULES 2019 – CONTENTS 3
1.5 TRUSTEES OF WELFARE FUND ___________________________________________ 49
2 DUTIES OF THE TRUSTEES ______________________________________________ 49
3 INVESTMENTS AND PROPERTY OF THE UNION ________________________________ 49
3.1 POWERS OF INVESTMENT ______________________________________________ 49
3.2 OPENING OF BANK ACCOUNTS ___________________________________________ 49
3.3 BOOKS, PAPERS AND DOCUMENTS _______________________________________ 50
3.4 LAND AND BUILDINGS _________________________________________________ 50
3.5 POWER OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO DIRECT TRUSTEES _________________ 50
3.6 USE OF FUNDS FOR MAINTENANCE, ETC OF LAND _____________________________ 50
4 THE UNION’S AUDITORS ________________________________________________ 50
5 INDEMNIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND STAFF ____ 50
6 DATA PROTECTION ___________________________________________________ 51
7 SERVICE OF NOTICES__________________________________________________ 51
8 GENERAL __________________________________________________________ 51
N AMENDMENT OF RULES 52
O INDUSTRIAL ACTION 53
P STANDING ORDERS FOR CONFERENCES 54
1 APPLICATION OF STANDING ORDERS ______________________________________ 54
2 STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE__________________________________________ 54
3 MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS PRE-CONFERENCE _____________________________ 55
3.1 PROCEDURE ________________________________________________________ 55
4-7 CONDUCT OF CONFERENCES ____________________________________________ 55
8 VOTING ___________________________________________________________ 56
9 TELLERS ___________________________________________________________ 56
10 WITHDRAWALS OF MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS _____________________________ 56
11 MOTIONS AND AMENDMENTS NOT ON AGENDA ______________________________ 56
12 PROCEDURAL MOTIONS ________________________________________________ 57
13 AMENDMENTS TO A MOTION ____________________________________________ 57
14 LIMIT OF SPEECHES __________________________________________________ 58
15 POINTS OF ORDER ___________________________________________________ 58
16 GROUPED DEBATES AND SEQUENTIAL VOTING _______________________________ 58
17 REPORTS BY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ________________________________ 58
18 REFERENCE OF OUTSTANDING ITEMS TO THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL _________ 59
19 SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS ______________________________________ 59
*Q DEFINITIONS 60
SCHEDULE A: RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION 62
1 FULL MEMBERS _____________________________________________________ 62
2 FULL MEMBERSHIP IN ACCORDANCE WITH C 2.3 _____________________________ 63
2.1 FULL PAY __________________________________________________________ 63
2.2 REDUCED PAY _______________________________________________________ 63
2.3 MATERNITY, PATERNITY, PARENTAL, ADOPTION, DEPENDANT CARE,
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COMPASSIONATE LEAVE AND OTHER UNPAID LEAVE ___________________________ 63
2.4 DISABILITY LEAVE ____________________________________________________ 63
2.5 LONG-TERM SICK LEAVE _______________________________________________ 63
2.6 MEMBERS UNDERTAKING TRAINING OR STUDY _______________________________ 63
3 UNEMPLOYED MEMBERS _______________________________________________ 63
4 MEMBERS IN EDUCATION_______________________________________________ 63
5 ONGOING LEGAL CASES _______________________________________________ 63
6 RETIRED MEMBERS ___________________________________________________ 64
6.1 LIFE MEMBERS OF COHSE ON VESTING DAY _________________________________ 64
6.2 RETIRED MEMBERS OF NALGO ON VESTING DAY ______________________________ 64
6.3 RETIRED MEMBERS OF NUPE ON VESTING DAY _______________________________ 64
7 VARIATION OF RATES _________________________________________________ 64
*SCHEDULE B: MEMBERS’ BENEFITS 65
1 SCOPE OF MEMBERS’ BENEFITS __________________________________________ 65
2 RULE BOOK BENEFITS _________________________________________________ 65
2.1 BENEFITS OF FULL MEMBERSHIP _________________________________________ 65
2.2 BENEFITS OF RETIRED MEMBERS _________________________________________ 65
*2.3 BENEFITS OF MEMBERS IN EDUCATION _____________________________________ 65
2.4 APPLICATIONS FOR BENEFIT ____________________________________________ 66
2.5 DISCRETION OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ______________________________ 66
*2.6 DEATH BENEFIT ______________________________________________________ 66
2.6.1 QUALIFICATION ______________________________________________________ 66
*2.6.2 ENTITLEMENT _______________________________________________________ 66
2.6.3 RETAIL PRICE INDEX __________________________________________________ 66
2.6.4 CONDITIONS ________________________________________________________ 66
*2.7 ACCIDENT BENEFIT ___________________________________________________ 66
2.7.1 QUALIFICATION ______________________________________________________ 66
*2.7.2 ENTITLEMENT _______________________________________________________ 67
2.7.3 RETAIL PRICE INDEX __________________________________________________ 67
2.7.4 CONDITIONS ________________________________________________________ 67
*2.8 FATAL ACCIDENT BENEFIT ______________________________________________ 67
2.8.1 QUALIFICATION ______________________________________________________ 67
*2.8.2 ENTITLEMENT _______________________________________________________ 67
2.8.3 RETAIL PRICE INDEX __________________________________________________ 67
2.8.4 CONDITIONS ________________________________________________________ 67
2.9 MAXIMUM SUM ASSURABLE ____________________________________________ 67
3 GRANTS FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING ___________________________________ 67
3.1 QUALIFICATION ______________________________________________________ 67
3.2 ENTITLEMENT _______________________________________________________ 68
3.3 CONDITIONS ________________________________________________________ 68
4 UNISON WELFARE BENEFITS ____________________________________________ 68
4.1 ELIGIBILITY _________________________________________________________ 68
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4.3 APPLICATION _______________________________________________________ 68
SCHEDULE C: ELECTIONS 69
SCHEDULE D: DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES 70
SCHEDULE E: POLITICAL FUND BALLOT 73
RULES FOR BALLOT TO MAINTAIN A POLITICAL FUND __________________________ 73
GENERAL __________________________________________________________ 73
INTERPRETATION _____________________________________________________ 73
PURPOSE OF THESE RULES _____________________________________________ 74
COPIES OF THESE RULES TO BE AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS _______________________ 74
APPOINTMENT OF A SCRUTINEER WHERE THE SCRUTINEER ACTS AS
THE INDEPENDENT PERSON _____________________________________________ 74
TERMS OF THE APPOINTMENT ___________________________________________ 74
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT ______________________________________________ 75
UNION’S DUTY TOWARDS THE SCRUTINEER _________________________________ 75
DISPATCH ENVELOPES _________________________________________________ 75
VOTING PAPERS _____________________________________________________ 75
RETURN ENVELOPES __________________________________________________ 76
DATE OF BALLOT ____________________________________________________ 76
CONDUCT OF THE BALLOT ______________________________________________ 76
MANNER OF VOTING __________________________________________________ 77
COUNTING OF THE BALLOT _____________________________________________ 77
SCRUTINEER’S REPORT ________________________________________________ 78
COPY OF THE SCRUTINEER’S REPORT TO BE SENT TO THE CERTIFICATION OFFICER ____ 79
PUBLICISING THE RESULT OF THE BALLOT __________________________________ 79
APPENDIX 1: 80
VOTING PAPER ON RETENTION OF A POLITICAL FUND __________________________ 80
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A Introductory
1 NAME OF THE UNION
The name of the Union shall be UNISON – The Public Service Union, hereafter referred to as “the
Union”. In Cymru Wales Region the union is also to be known by the Welsh name “UNSAIN”.
2 INTERPRETATION OF RULES
1. These rules shall, except where the contrary is stated, be interpreted in accordance with the
definitions of certain expressions contained in Rule Q below.
2. In the event of any question arising as to the interpretation of these rules, the question shall be
referred to the National Executive Council, whose decision shall be conclusive and binding.
3 ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Union shall seek to ensure that discriminatory acts are not committed against any persons
by the Union, or by its organs, members, or officers, on grounds such as race, gender,
sexuality, gender identity, disability, age, creed or social class.
UNUINSIOSNO NR URLUELSE S2 021091 –9 A– CIN MTREOMDBUECRTSOHRIPY 11
*B Aims and objectives
1 AT WORK AND IN THE COMMUNITY
1. To organise all those employed, directly or indirectly, within those areas of employment
which provide services to the public whether in the public, private or voluntary sectors of the
economy.
2. To seek to ensure equality of treatment and fair representation for all members and to work
for the elimination of discrimination on grounds of race, gender, sexuality, gender identity,
disability, age or creed.
3. To seek to protect the rights of all members to be treated with dignity and respect irrespective
of race, gender, sexuality, gender identity, disability, age or creed.
4. To improve the pay and conditions of members and promote their interests.
5. To establish good relations between members and their employers, to secure the settlement of
disputes arising from members’ employment, and to participate in joint negotiating machinery.
6. To promote and improve the health, safety and welfare of members in the workplace.
7. To promote trade unionism.
8. To work to achieve equal access to public services for all and to ensure that all users of public
services are treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of race, gender, sexuality, gender
identity, disability, age or creed.
9. To promote greater employee, consumer and user involvement and representation in the
delivery of public services, irrespective of race, gender, sexuality, gender identity, disability, age
or creed.
10. To work with all other interested parties, individuals and organisations to maintain and improve
the quality of services to the public.
11. To liaise with the United Kingdom Government, devolved administrations and all other levels of
government on public services and related matters and to promote and monitor legislation for
the benefit of members and the public.
12. To promote and pursue environmental sustainability in all our work.
*2 UNION DEMOCRACY
1. To promote, safeguard and improve the interests and status of members and the Union as a
whole.
2. To promote and establish a member-led union and to carry out and fulfil decisions made by
members in a spirit of unity and accountability.
*3. To promote fair representation in all the Union’s structures for women, members of all grades,
black members, disabled members and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender plus (LGBT+)
members.
4. To encourage solidarity and an effective working partnership between members, activists,
representatives, officers and all staff in the service of the Union and its agreed policies.
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