UNISON Objectives and Priorities 2009

UNISON aims to maximise value for money from members’ subscriptions in the context of the current political and economic climate through delivering on our key objectives and priorities. Implementation will also be guided by our union-wide equality scheme.

OBJECTIVE 1 Recruiting, organising, representing and retaining members

1.1 We will develop our organising capacity by:

• achieving overall membership growth of 3%, including increasing the union’s influence in the private, community and voluntary sector and among migrant workers. We will ensure all branches/regions complete the joint assessment process and are allocated sufficient resources to meet agreed workplace organising objectives

• increasing the diversity, number and percentage of workplace representatives trained for their roles and provide development pathways linked to national standards and qualifications. We aim to improve access to and distribution of time off facilities and secure improvements to the legal framework

• developing regional pool initiatives to promote and support workplace organising, recruitment and retention campaigns.

1.2 UNISON will improve representation by:

Increasing member participation, in particular at branch and workplace level, including achieving increased turnout in national elections and ballots.

OBJECTIVE 2 Negotiating and bargaining on behalf of members and promoting equality

2.1 UNISON will negotiate improved pay and conditions and implement agreed pay and grading packages to:

• deliver fair and equal pay across all sectors and bargaining groups
• secure quality and non-discriminatory pension schemes which are governed in the best interests of members,
• and promote lifelong learning, skills pathways and workforce development.

2.2 The union will provide effective bargaining and support services to members; including expert engagement in procurement processes aimed at securing employer compliance with statutory guidance to prevent a two-tier workforce.

2.3   UNISON will promote equality and challenge discrimination in the workplace, using public sector equalities duties and relevant equality legislation.

OBJECTIVE 3 Campaigning and promoting UNISON on behalf of members

3.1 UNISON will work to promote and improve our public services by:

• developing the case for quality public services and promoting the public service workforce
• campaigning against PFI, privatisation and the marketisation of public services, and
• campaigning for more decent and affordable housing.

3.2 UNISON campaigns for rights at work to:

• eliminate discrimination in the workplace
• improve working lives and work-life balance
• extend collective rights in line with ILO conventions.

3.3 We will maximise our political influence by:

• ensuring effective and co-ordinated use of political fund resources
• influencing government policies including those of devolved nations
• promoting our key objectives within the European Union and Internationally.

3.4 UNISON will oppose and challenge discrimination by:

• developing and implementing an equalities strategy across the union
• promoting respect for asylum-seekers and humane immigration rules
• combating the far right and promoting community cohesion.

3.5 We will develop a consistent environmental or “Green UNISON” strategy across the union.

OBJECTIVE 4 Developing an Efficient and Effective Union

4.1 We will improve our branch and service group structures by implementing the recommendations of the New Structures report agreed by the 2007 National Delegate Conference.

4.2 We will improve the management, development and diversity of staff by:

• re-profiling and developing our workforce regionally and nationally to maximise resources on UNISON’s organising, campaigning and development objectives

• maintaining and developing the union’s equality-proofed pay and grading system

• retaining Investors in People status and improving work-life balance policies for staff which enhance flexible working while ensuring that services to branches and members are maintained and improved.

4.3 We will improve our IT, organisational and financial systems by:

• developing the membership records system (RMS) as the union’s core organisational database and communications channel for the recording, processing and storage of membership and income records; for e-communications with members, activists and staff; and for organising information to support the recruitment and retention of members.

• developing the RMS to improve membership data accuracy; income collection and allocation and branch accessibility and launch online member recruitment.

• improving systems for financial reporting for branches, including developing online and interactive services to support branch financial accounting.

• integrating new and existing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure and systems across the union to improve communications, enhance business information collection and evaluation, and maximise the use of e-communications throughout the union.

4.4 We will improve our environmental performance and reduce our carbon footprint by:

• establishing an environmental strategy, policy and action plan and meeting targets set in accordance with best practice.

• putting in place an environmental management system leading to the ISO 14001 accreditation.