Health and safety
Working for partnership in the community and voluntary sector
Information on trade union recognition for management committee members and trustees
Good reasons to recognise a trade union
Many community and voluntary organisations are experiencing recruitment and retention problems. The improved conditions, staff participation and development which comes with union recognition will help to attract and retain a high quality workforce.
Community and voluntary sector organisations recognise the challenge of complying with the new legislation. The minimum wage, working time regulations, rules on representation and recognition, all call for a new atmosphere of co-operation in the workplace.
Staff are increasingly opting to join unions rather than works councils, joint consultative committees or staff associations, because they find a union is more effective in representing their views to management.
Good Reasons to Recognise UNISON
UNISON is the largest trade union in the UK. Our 1.3 million members work in the public services - in the community and voluntary sector, local government, health, higher education and the energy industry. We represent all grades of staff.
UNISON organises widely in the community and voluntary sector. We represent over 40,000 community and voluntary sector workers. According to NCVO research, UNISON is the main union for medium and small voluntary organisations.
UNISON understands the sector and its problems and pressures. We know that every organisation is different and that the way we organise and represent our members must be flexible and fit the organisation
UNISON is contributing to the future shape of the sector and is lobbying on its behalf. UNISON has strong links with the Home Office Active Community Unit and regularly meets with MPs and key community and voluntary sector organisations.
Our Commitment to Partnership
UNISON aims to build up good relationships with employers and to develop partnerships which both benefit employees and help the employing organisation and those it serves. UNISON knows that confrontational tactics are not helpful in the sector.
Our Services
UNISON can help your organisation create a better working environment. We aim to improve conditions and ensure that members get a fair deal when problems crop up. We also work to improve health and safety and promote equal opportunities.
UNISON has an extensive network of trained stewards, branch officers and professional officers. We also have extensive legal, research and policy support. Our helpline, UNISON Direct, provides branches and member with speedy access to information on a range of union issues.
Community and voluntary organisations with limited budgets find our extensive training services a useful supplement to in-house provision. These include courses on health and safety, pensions, equal opportunities and employment law. Our Open College distance learning courses can help develop career or personal potential. UNISON is also proud of its "return to learn" education programme for people who missed out on education the first time around.
UNISON offers a range of benefits for members - cheaper mortgages, car and house insurance, a holiday club, discount shopping, a credit card, convalescent care and many other services.
Our Values
UNISON puts members at the heart of its activities and concerns. We believe that the values that motivate most community and voluntary organisations are absolutely in line with the values on which UNISON is based. We base our policies on democracy, accountability, solidarity, co-operation, communication and education, equality, partnership. UNISON believes that members deserve representation at every level, from the local workplace to national and international assemblies. UNISON community and voluntary sector members also have their own voice on issues that affect them through their own committees, annual seminar and newsletter.
What should you do next?
UNISON asks that you first talk to your employees about trade union recognition and then given us the opportunity to speak to them, and to provide them with information about what we offer. We believe that employees should choose who represents them and that management's role is to help them make an informed choice.
UNISON's aims for our voluntary sector members are good industrial relations and an effective organisation. We believe that this is what employers also want. This is the basis for our campaign for partnership.
If you would like to know more about working in partnership with UNISON, email cvsu@unison.co.uk with details.
Have you got an up to date safety policy?
Do you consult with staff on health & safety?
Do you display the statutory Health & Safety notice in your premises?
For these and other useful reminders see the UNISON health & safety checklist
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