The regional convenor is elected by regional council delegates and is the senior lay member at regional level. The regional convenor usually chairs regional council and regional committee meetings.
Tasks relating to the office of regional convenor include:
- ensuring development and maintenance of strong and flexible branch structures
- responsible for chairing the Branch Support and Organising Fund (BSOF)
- responsible for working alongside Regional Secretaries to oversee the progress of branches under regional supervision/reporting back to the NEC
- monitoring deployment of resources allocated to the region to ensure that UNISON objectives are being effectively pursued
- implementation of national policies and campaign strategies, in particular, recruitment and retention
- liaison with region’s NEC representatives l supporting union communications and lay member education provision at regional level
- liaison with self organised groups, retired members and young members
- consulting with, and representing the union on, external bodies in relation to economic, political and social issues in accordance with Democracy in UNISON guidelines and devolution protocol
- participating in the regional convenors’ group at national level
- in partnership with the regional secretary, ensuring effective lay governance via regional council and other lay member democratic structures within the region
- In partnership in an advocate role with the union’s regional members
Resources for convenors:
- Partnership working at regional level booklet
- Code of good branch practice: 2010
- Unison convenor group terms of service