Branch Name

The branch shall be called “University of Bristol” Branch of UNISON and is referred throughout the rules as “the branch”.

Relationship to national organisation

Branch rules shall be in accordance with national rules, decisions of the Annual Delegate Conference and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Any member may have a copy of the current Rule Book.

The branch shall make an audited annual return of branch income, expenditure, assets and liabilities, as prescribed by the NEC and in accordance with national rules.

Aims of the branch

To support and pursue the Aims and Objectives contained in the UNISON Rule Book, and the Objectives agreed by UNISON’s National Executive Committee annually, and in particular:

  • To achieve the aims and targets set annually through the branch assessment.

Membership

Eligibility for membership shall be in accordance with the Rules of the union.

Application for membership takes effect from the date at which completed forms are received by the branch or at regional/national level and the first contribution is made.

A meeting of the branch or branch committee may decide not to support a membership application but such a decision must be consistent with the rules and with statute. Such a decision must be explained to the individual in writing, together with their rights of appeal.

All members must comply with the rules.

The NEC may terminate an individual’s membership in accordance with the rules.

Branch structure

There will be an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the branch held between 1st January and 31st March to, confirm the election by ballot of branch officers and members of the branch committee, to receive the branch accounts and report on branch development from the branch committee.

The AGM may comprise one meeting or a series of aggregate meetings based on sections or geographical areas in order to maximise the active participation of members. Proxy votes are permissible providing they are received before the AGM is held. No votes after the meeting will be counted.

The AGM will determine the basis of representation in the branch and the number of stewards and other representatives to be elected in each work group or workplace.

Other general meetings may be called by the branch committee or by 20 members of the branch or 5% of the membership, whichever is the greater.

The quorum for any general meeting, including the annual meeting is 10%¹ of the branch at a single meeting or through aggregate meetings.

Sections will be established for each bargaining group covered by the branch to provide for the participation and representation of members in that section in accordance with rule 8 below.²

The branch committee will comprise all branch officers (see rule 6 below), and stewards³, and will be responsible for the general organisation and development of the branch and for policy and decision making on matters affecting all members within the branch between general meetings.

The branch management group⁴ will be responsible for the day to day management of the branch in accordance with the decisions and authority delegated by the branch committee. Its membership and role is as described in rule 7 below.

The quorum for a general meeting shall be a minimum of 30 members to make it quorate.

Branch officers

The branch shall elect the following officers annually in accordance with rule 6c:

  • Chairperson
  • Vice Chairperson
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Recruitment Co-ordinator
  • Membership Co-ordinator
  • Education Co-ordinator
  • Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator
  • Equality Co-ordinator(s)
  • Health and Safety Co-ordinator
  • Communications Co-ordinator
  • International Co-ordinator
  • Young Members Co-ordinator
  • Welfare Co-ordinator
  • Labour Link Co-ordinator (elected by the members who pay the political levy only)
  • Retired Members’ Secretary (elected by the retired members)

Others to be determined as necessary for the effective operation of the branch.

Each section within the branch shall elect a convenor (senior steward) from amongst the stewards in that section in accordance with rule 6d.

Election of branch officers

Branch officers may be nominated by the branch committee or any two members, with the exception of the Labour Link officer who will be elected by the APF members only.

Nominations will be invited 12 weeks before the AGM and nomination forms will made available through the branch web-site.

All nominations must be received in writing at least 7 weeks before the AGM each nominee will be notified and given the right to withdraw not later than 6 weeks before the AGM.

If there is more than one candidate, a vote will be held. The vote will be conducted by postal ballot in accordance with the procedure and time scales contained in the Code of Good Branch Practice.⁵

Where no valid nomination has been received before the deadline, nominations may be called for and candidate elected at the AGM, or endorsed by the branch committee subject to ratification by the next general meeting.

Election of convenors

The process for nomination and election shall be as in (c) save that the nomination may be by the section committee or any two members employed in that section, and only members employed in the relevant section may participate in the election.

Branch Committee

Representation on the branch committee will be agreed by the AGM and will include:

  • Branch officers
  • One representative of each self-organised group
  • Elected Stewards (Work Place Representatives)
  • The convenors for each section (or all stewards where there is no sectional structure)
  • The branch committee shall administer branch business in accordance with UNISON rules and guidance
  • The quorum for the branch committee shall be 33% (one third) of the members of the committee
  • The branch committee shall ensure that sections within the branch are appropriately and equitably resourced to ensure the effective participation of members, recruitment and organisation, representation, and collective bargaining and campaigning on behalf of members in each section
  • The branch committee will establish arrangements for the individual representation of members
  • The branch committee shall meet once a month⁶

Branch Management Group

The Branch Management Group shall comprise the branch secretary, branch chair, branch treasurer, section convenors, the branch equalities officer (and others as appropriate).

The Branch Management Group will meet as needed⁷ to ensure the effective day to day management of the branch within the parameters of the decisions and guidance issued by the branch committee.

The Branch Management Group may commit to no expenditure, policy decision or affiliation that has not been previously agreed by the branch committee.

Sections

Sections comprise all members within the relevant service group and/or bargaining group and will have autonomy within the branch in respect of collective bargaining with their employer(s) only, subject to the policies and any guidelines and procedures of the branch, region and national union.

Sections will be led by a convenor elected in accordance with rule 6d and who will be the senior accredited representative within the section, and a committee of all accredited representatives within the section.

Conduct of meetings

All meetings will be conducted in a fair and democratic manner.

All meetings will be advertised widely as far in advance as possible (in the case of the AGM, all members will be notified in writing at least 12 weeks before the meeting, or first aggregate meeting).

The procedures to be used at the meeting will be explained clearly.

The branches will maintain records of all meetings and other appropriate records to enable the branch to function.

The Branch Executive can have meetings convened on line through forums such as Google Chat as appropriate providing the Branch Secretary is present and the number participating is quorate to make decisions for the Branch.

Media communications

Communications to the media on behalf of the branch shall be made only by officer(s) authorised by the committee.

Affiliations

Affiliations to relevant constituency Labour Parties will be decided by the APF membership.

Affiliations to trade councils shall be determined by the AGM or branch committee.

Finance

The branch shall keep a bank/building society account in the name of the branch and will maintain a financial record of all assets and transactions in accordance with UNISON guidelines.

Donations

Donations shall be agreed by the AGM or branch committee in accordance with the union’s policies and objectives and subject to provisions of national rule.

Expenses

Rates of expenses for members attending meetings or carrying out other activities on behalf of the branch shall be agreed by the AGM in accordance with the Scheme for Branch Expenses contained in the Branch Finances Handbook.

Honorarium

The branch will no longer pay honoraria but will instead commit up to 10% of branch income towards an annual Branch Development Day. All branch officers and representatives will be encouraged to participate in this event to develop the branch action plan for the year.

Approval/alteration to branch rules

Branch rules must be agreed by two thirds of members present and voting at a quorate branch meeting

Branch rules must be approved in accordance with UNISON’s procedures.

Any changes to branch rules must be agreed and approved in the same way.

¹ See section 11.2.6.

² Relevant to larger, multi-employer branches and branches covering more than one service group

³ Smaller branches may include all stewards; branches operating a sectional structure may choose to include only the convenor
of each section.

⁴ It is acknowledged that some branches already have an “Executive” or “Finance & General Purposes committee” which should
comply with this rule. See 11.2.5.

⁵ Section 11.4 of the Code advises that use of a ballot paper is recommended over “show of hands” and that branches should
opt for a postal ballot for the election of its officers.

⁶ The branch committee should hold a minimum of 4 meetings a year

⁷ The branch should decide on a frequency that reflects the purpose of the group and that decisions are not left solely to one or two senior branch officers