Introduction
The Organising to Win strategy confirms the Organising Framework (OF) as the primary joint branch / region evaluation and planning tool for base organising. Its purpose is to support branches achieve the “Organising Standard” set out in the UNISON Code of Good Branch Practice.
A wide ranging review has taken extensive feedback from across the union to ensure the OF remains fit for that purpose. The new OF is due to launch on 1 October 2024 and will provide:
- Simpler access. It is housed within existing UNISON systems, meaning all organising staff have automatic access without the need for separate log in.
- Greater flexibility. The framework is separated into 2 sections. Section 1 covers objectives 1/2/3 with a focus on organising, bargaining, and equalities. Section 2 covers objective 4 with a focus on finance, WARMS, case management, GDPR. There is no requirement for the whole OF to be completed in one sitting. The branch secretary and regional organiser may plan to discuss sections separately, as a 1-1 discussion or with the involvement of other core officers or even the whole branch committee as part of a planning and development day.
- Evaluation and reflection. The OF asks participants to consider key lessons from previous activity to inform future planning and ensure continuous improvement.
- Planning and progress monitoring. The OF will generate the outline of a branch action plan, which should be presented to the AGM, be a standing item on the branch committee agenda, and be subject to a detailed 6-month (or more frequent) review by the Branch Secretary and Regional Organiser.
- Meaningful data and insight. The OF will generate reports to help regions identify potential support needs and plan accordingly, and for national committees to monitor progress against national objectives.
Next steps
The new OF will be accessible from 1st Oct 2024 for completion by end March 2025. Further detailed guidance on how to access and complete the framework and action plan will be circulated on 1 October and a webinar briefing has been scheduled for 14 October 12 noon to 1pm. More information on the 14 October event can be viewed here and you can also register at this link.
Feedback on the new OF will be taken via a survey following completion.