Update: 16 June 2021
Yesterday at the Special Delegate Conference, Motion 72 was passed with 59.9% of votes cast. This is great news for UNISON activists as assistance where it is needed most – on the front line supporting members – will be significantly enhanced.
Thank you to all activists throughout the UK who engaged in the Branch Resources Review process. Your engagement and feedback was invaluable and informed all the proposals that formed Motion 72.
The newly elected National Executive Council will be very active in the coming months ensuring that all proposals are implemented in accordance with the motion.
Update: 11 June 2021
If you missed the Question Time event on 10 June, with Josie Bird, Lilian Macer and Christina McAnea you can catch up by watching the recording here:
Update: 11 June 2021
With just days to go until busy activists can vote on Motion 72: Supporting Our Branches, take a minute to view this short film – it will give you a flavour of the recommendations. Remember to read the full report too!
Update: 9 June 2021
New NEC transitional arrangements mean financial support for all branches
UNISON’s national executive council (NEC) recognises that the pandemic has put enormous pressure on branches. It therefore proposes that if motion 72: Supporting our branches is carried at the special delegate conference next week, an additional £2.4m be set aside from national funds to offer financial security during a transition period from 2022 to 2024. Read the NEC Bulletin in full here:
National-Executive-Council-Bulletin-Branch-Resources-Review-Motion-72-v1.0
Update: 9 June 2021
Thank you to everyone who attended the Zoom event last night on the new Branch Funding Formula – part of the Motion 72 package of measures to help branches. If you couldn’t attend – check out the recording here:
Update: 4 June 2021
Do you have lots of questions about Motion 72: Supporting Our Branches and the Branch Resources Review? Come along to our “Question Time” session on Thursday 10 June at 6pm with Josie Bird, Chair of the BRR, Lilian Macer, Vice Chair of the BRR and General Secretary, Christina McAnea. The event is on Zoom and registration is required in advance.
Update: 2 June 2021
Want to know more about the new Branch Funding Scheme? Come along to the BRR Zoom Event on 8 June 2021 at 6pm with Josie Bird and Lilian Macer. Come armed with your questions or submit them in advance.
Registration required – sign up below!
Update: 25 May 2021
Josie Bird, Chair of the Branch Resources Review will be hosting two more national Zoom events next month:
- 8th June – Branch Resources Review – the new look funding formula; and
- 10th June – Branch Resources Review – Question Time.
Register for these events here
Update: 25 May 2021
If you were unable to attend the Organising, Regional Support and the Branch Support & Organising Fund event, you can watch it here:
Update: 20 May 2021
Update: 14 May 2021
Event: “Supporting Our Branches (Motion 72) – Organising, Regional Support and the Branch Resources Review”
When: Monday 24 May – 12 noon to 1pm on Zoom
Supporting our members is at the heart of everything UNISON does and supporting our activists in their vital work to support our members has become even more important now.
Motion 72: Supporting Our Branches is a package of proposals all designed to save busy activists time and provide more regional support and money.
The Branch Support & Organising Fund will be an accessible, lay controlled fund open to all branches.
Hear all about the fund from Josie Bird (Chair of the Branch Resources Review), Nicky Ramanandi (Regional Convenor), Lilian Macer (Regional Convenor) and Chris Tansley (NEC member).
Organising, Regional Support & the Branch Support & Organising Fund”
Update: 12 May 2021
We were delighted to welcome so many activists to our national event “An Introduction to the Branch Resources Review” on 27 April 2021. Our panel on the night were:
- Becky Tye – Regional Convenor
- Josie Bird – Chair of the BRR
- Lilian Macer – Regional Convenor
- Maureen le Marinel – NEC
- Nicky Ramanandi – Regional Convenor
If you were unable to join us on the night, you can catch up with either the full length recording of the event or the shorter one here:
Update: 30 April 2021
New to Motion 72: Supporting Our Branches – The Branch Resources Review? This is a quick introduction.
Update: 21 April 2021
Event: 27 April 2021 at 6pm – Supporting Our Branches: An Introduction to the Branch Resources Review
Heard about the Branch Resources Review but are not sure what it is?
This briefing will offer you an introductory overview of the entire NEC package which consists of 14 elements of support for all branches and activists like you.
Come along and find out more from Josie Bird (President & Chair of the Review), Lilian Macer (Chair of Regional Convenors & Vice Chair of the Review), Nicky Ramanandi (Regional Convenor), Maureen le Marinel (National Executive Council member) and Becky Tye (Regional Convenor).
Update: 20 April 2021
Supporting Our Branches: The Branch Resources Review
NEC Report to the UNISON Special Delegate Conference 2021
This report sets out the complete 14 item package of support that is being proposed by the NEC in Motion 72 to the Special Delegate Conference 2021.
Two years ago, at the NDC in Liverpool, Motion 126 was passed; it called for a review of branch resources. This report is a result of the two year review period that has been informed by activists on the ground. 357 branches responded to a union wide survey and 2000 activists have provided feedback as this comprehensive review has progressed. You can report the report at the link below:
Supporting Our Branches: The Branch Resources Review NEC Report
Motion 126 from NDC 2019 here: Motion 126
Update: 8 April 2021
Branching Out – UNISON’s branches look to the future
UNISON’s branches are vital in supporting our members. Together with our regions and the national union, branches work tirelessly to improve the working conditions for members, wherever they are, whatever their role.
But what branches do is expanding. Not only do they recruit members and represent them, but after 10 years of austerity there has been a reduction of employers in national bargaining arrangements and a significant fragmentation of the workforce. UNISON needs every branch active and thriving.
In 2019, the national delegate conference decided that an examination of all branch resources be conducted to help branches organise members now and in the future. The branch resources review was set up to do that. Here is what has happened so far and what’s coming up.
What is the branch resources review?
After debates at successive conferences on branch workloads and resources, the review group was set up to look at the issue and make sure branches were supported fairly and sustainably.
The review looked at a range of measures that would support branches – in particular, saving them time. It also looked at how regional support could be increased and yes … how funding could be increased too.
Who makes up the branch resources review group?
The review has been member-led, with 24 members from across the union, including president Josie Bird, who chaired the group.
There were 12 from the national executive council (NEC) and 12 from regions. These 24 members were put into four smaller groups to look at resources in UNISON branches, regions and at a national level, as well as looking at branch funding.
What’s happened so far?
In spring 2020, all branches were asked to complete a survey; 357 responded. Branch activists said they wanted to recruit and retain members, develop activists and support members with representation. But to do this, they needed more time, more regional support and more funding – in that order.
The survey was followed up with in-depth interviews with a cross section of branches. This confirmed that what was required was a more modern, more flexible and more supportive union.
Once the proposals had been put together, the review group took to the road – albeit virtually. They consulted with over 1,700 activists in the regions, service groups and all NEC committees.
The group is confident that the proposals detailed below are a much fairer way of supporting branches across the whole union and that will ultimately be much better for all of our members.
What are the proposals?
There are 14 proposals in total.
1a. A new branch funding formula – see below for more on this.
1b. A new branch support and organising fund – to bring together the best of both the regional pool and fighting fund, and be four times the value of the former. See below for more.
2. Subsidised access to CaseWeb system – to provide one place for all casework, saving branches considerable time and meeting environmental and GDPR commitments.
3. A new branch service portal – to bring together guides, links and other resources needed to run a branch. The proposal is to create a central digital environment where branch officers can access all information that may be required.
4. Development of a new facility time strategy – and campaign to highlight the value of facility time, learn from branches that have won increases, address issues of viability of existing agreements and, where possible, seek to win increases and improvements through collective bargaining.
5. A new national procurement offer to branches – using economies of scale to save branches time if buying goods and services; to achieve ethical standards, adhere to the living wage, prevent modern slavery in supply chains and conform to environmental standards.
6. Online meetings – upholding and enhancing the union’s democracy has been central to all of the review group’s discussions. This proposal is that some meetings in the annual cycle could now take place online, with savings returned to branches. The union’s response to COVID-19 has shown us that we can operate using technology.
7. Improved conference services – to introduce a central booking system for travel and accommodation at UNISON conferences, among other measures.
8. A prioritised, union-wide RMS upgrade – this has already started due to the urgent need for an integrated system for branches, regions and UNISONdirect to use, rather than the web access RMS (WARMS) system that branches currently use. The upgrade also presents an opportunity for improved communications with members.
9. Enhanced bargaining support – to improve access and awareness of the existing bargaining support service of factsheets, guides and private company research to reach more activists.
10. New online branch expenses module (inside OLBA) – designed to simplify the requirements placed on branch treasurers.
11. An update of the code of good branch practice.
12. Effective promotion of organising school events – a national organising school, led by the NEC and regions, to grow the number of skilled and experienced officers and stewards.
13. Affiliations – to provide information so that more informed decisions can be made at branch level.
14. Implementation Group – to ensure that all elements are effectively and efficiently implemented.
What is the branch funding formula?
The branch funding formula is the way the NEC allocates funds to branches. Branches receive regular payments to ensure that the branch runs properly and that the management and other expenses of the branch are met. The formula is agreed at NDC.
Why is there going to be a new formula?
The current formula was agreed in 2001. Since then, the fragmentation of the workforce, together with the ever-changing political landscape, means that it is no longer meeting the needs of every branch.
For example, in the last decade, there has been a steady rise in branches under financial pressure, with little in reserve in their general funds.
What’s the point of a new formula?
The main aim is to make the distribution of funds between branches fairer, addressing the big differences between some branches with lots of funds and those with far less.
But it will also modernise the resourcing of branches, increase funding and make it affordable and sustainable for the future.
What are the key changes to the funding formula?
Currently, 23.5% of UNISON’s annual member subscription income is allocated to branches, with 23% allocated directly to branches and 0.5% available to branches via application to the regional pool.
The new formula will increase this allocation to a permanent total of 25.5% with 23.5% allocated as direct funding and 2% available to branches via an application to the new branch support and organising fund.
Overall, this represents an increase of 2% additional funding to branches. For example, if these proposals had been implemented in 2019 an additional £3.5 million would have been available to branches.
What is the new branch support and organising fund?
The branch support and organising fund (BSOF) is a dedicated fund to further support branches with organising, representation and equipment.
It brings together elements of the regional pool and fighting fund under regional lay control, and will be flexible and transparent about local bids for projects and resources.
It will be allocated 2% of national income every year (approximately £3.3m) that will then be split between regions. Currently 0.5% of national income is allocated to the regional pool and this will be replaced by the BSOF at 2%.
What happens next?
If these proposals are passed at the special delegate conference in June, a lay led implementation group will be appointed.
Some of the proposals are already in the planning stage – for instance, the RMS upgrade and the OLBA expenses module.
Some work could start immediately after the special delegate conference – for instance, the new facility time strategy and some proposals, such as the new branch funding formula and the branch support and organising fund, which will come into effect from 1 January 2022.
Proposals will be reviewed every three to five years to make sure they’re still meeting the objective – supporting branches.
Update: 22 March 2021
Supporting Branches: Stronger Together
We know that after a decade-long austerity agenda attacking public services, our members and our branches have felt the pressure. To remain steadfast in the face of this onslaught, a strong, united UNISON is needed to deliver for our activists and members. Support for our members comes from reps on the ground to officers in the regions and at UNISON Centre; this collaboration, this common endeavour makes UNISON unique. We are a collective and we are always stronger together.
A branch resources review in one form or another has been taking place for the last 10 years, indeed our President, Josie Bird, will tell you that she began looking at this at the NDC just four weeks after the birth of her first child; he is now 9.
Almost two years ago, the world was a very different place. We were all together at the 2019 National Delegate Conference in Liverpool – having lively debates and discussions. Motion 126 was passed at that conference; it called for a review of branch resources to improve the level and quality of resources available to branches of UNISON. The focussed work began of meeting the remit of that and continued throughout the pandemic – not necessarily in large formal meetings in the first lockdown but behind the scenes, work continued apace.
Representatives of the review group then took to the road – albeit virtually. In a series of branch consultations, with the opportunity to pose questions and provide feedback, activists were encouraged to engage in the refining of the proposals. The package of proposals has been presented to regional council meetings, regional committee meetings, branch briefings. There have specific briefings on the new branch funding formula and the branch support and organising. The proposals have been presented to all the national executive council meetings, service group committees and the Equality Liaison Committee. This engagement at all levels of UNISON has ensured that the development process of this package of proposals has been considered, robust and thorough.
Lilian Macer (Chair of Regional Convenors and Vice Chair of the Branch Resources Review) said “We need a strong UNISON to deliver for our activists and members. We are building on a strong base – no other union of a similar stature gives a bigger proportion of its subscriptions to branches. It is time to think as a collective and not as individuals and act in the best interest of all branches.”
Update: 19 March 2021
On Friday 26 February 2021, Josie Bird (President and Chair of the Branch Resources Review), Lilian Macer (Regional Convenor and Vice Chair of the BRR) and Alastair Long (Chair of the FRMC) presented the findings of the two year Review to the National Executive Committee.
The Review period has now come to an end. The proposals put together by the Branch Resources Review Group meet the remit of Motion 126 (passed at the 2019 National Delegate Conference); a motion and report ‘Supporting Our Branches’ will be put to the Special Delegate Conference in June 2021.
The Branch Resources Review was lay lead and made up of 24 people – 12 people from the NEC and 12 people from the regions. Working collaboratively with national officers, the Review Group has put together a package of fourteen proposal.
After a decade-long austerity agenda attacking public services, our members and our branches are feeling the pressure. To remain steadfast in the face of this onslaught, a strong, united UNISON is needed to deliver for our activists and members; when we think and act as a collective, we are unbeatable.
Support comes from reps on the ground to officers in the regions and at UNISON Centre; this collaboration is unique to UNISON, this common endeavour makes UNISON unique and together we are stronger!
The BRR Review Group sees this review as part of this longstanding UNISON tradition. In short, this has been the basis of the Branch Resources Review. The BRR Review Group has put together a package of proposals that will support branches in a coordinated way to provide a modern, flexible and supportive union.
In the spring of 2020, all branches were asked to complete a survey; 357 branches responded. Branch activists told the BRR Review Group that they wanted to recruit and retain members, develop activists and support members with representation. To do this, they needed more time, more regional support and more funding – in that order. The survey was followed up with in-depth interviews with a cross section of branches. This confirmed that what was required was a modern, flexible and supportive union.
The BRR Review Group has consulted also extensively, speaking to over 1700 activists in the regions, service groups and the Equality Liaison Committee. They have consulted with all NEC committees including the D&O, Policy and FRMC.
The fourteen proposals are listed here – all designed to provide more time, more support and more funding to our branches.
- NEW! Branch Funding Formula
- NEW! Branch Support & Organising Fund
- NEW! Branch Service Portal
- NEW! National Procurement Service
- NEW! National Facility Time Strategy
- SUBSIDISED! CaseWeb
- PRIORITISED! Roll out of RMS Upgrade
- PRIORITISED! Expenses module on OLBA
- Improved access to Bargaining Support
- Centralised travel and hotel booking service
- Updated Code of Good Branch Practice
- Coordinated Affiliation information
- Revamped Organising School
- Meetings Online/Hybrid
This package of proposals will enable every branch to be active. UNISON is strong and powerful as a collective working together in branches, regions, self-organised groups, service groups, and the national centre.
The review group will continue to engage with regions and branches in the run-up to the union’s online special delegate conference where it will be debated.
- Briefing Note Branch Resources Review March 2021
- Branch Survey Executive Summary February 2020 Branch
- Resources Review Branch Survey Results February 2020 for Website