Dear Comrades,
As the weather, ESS restructure and Temple Quarter (or should we say Sloane Robinson…) opening all continue to ramp up, we’re here with some branch updates to see you through.
📝Branch meeting recap – 30/06/26
➡️ Meeting recording and transcript
➡️ Minutes
➡️ Agenda
Our next branch meeting will be 12/08/26 12-1pm
➡️ Join here
➡️ To see branch meetings and other events in your calendar: ‘Add calendar’ > ‘Add from directory’ > search for ‘unison-social@bristol.ac.uk’ > select Add to ‘My calendars’ > Save
✊ 26/7 pay offer update
In our previous update (read on our website), we announced the result of the 2026/7 pay offer consultation ballot update. The result was an overwhelming rejection of the 2% offer.
The HESGE (Higher Education Service Group Executive) met on 1 July to decide next steps:
- UCU are now consulting their members on the 2% pay offer. Like us, they are recommending that members reject the offer. Their consultation closes on 11 August.
- When the outcome of the UCU consultation is known, UNISON and the other joint higher education unions will meet to consider whether to start the dispute process with the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) on the pay offer.
- UCEA has confirmed that they will not be asking institutions to impose the pay award from 1 August to allow discussions to continue.
🧑💻 New MyUNISON!
MyUNISON, the online system that lets you manage your UNISON membership, has a swish new look. (RIP to the version that looked like it hadn’t changed since the internet was invented).
It’s important to keep your information up to date to ensure ballots reach your correct address, and that you’re paying the right amount of subs if you ever need legal support.
➡️ MyUNISON
➡️ Check out our guide to setting up and navigating your account – there’s lots of new useful features
✅ Recently passed motions
The following were discussed and accepted by your branch committee:
➡️ Make office attendance voluntary during extreme heat warnings! – University of Bristol UNISON
➡️ Donate to Bristol Transformed Festival 2027 – University of Bristol UNISON
📣 Officer updates
➡️ Updates from our Education officer: become a steward and help your colleagues through their individual workplace issues
🌞 Officers out and about
UNISON NDC (National Delegated Conference)
Branch officers Alex K, Alex T, and Aniqah recently headed to Brighton to represent our branch at NDC, speaking and voting on the future of our union.
➡️ Dispatches from NDC 2026 – University of Bristol UNISON
UNISON Southwest Branch Officers training
Branch officers Verity, Sophie L, Alex T, and Eleni travelled to Croyde Bay to connect with other officers from our region, and get some fresh ideas to improve our branch.
➡️ Dispatches from Croyde Bay 2026 – University of Bristol UNISON
UNISON’s National Disabled Members conference
This year’s conference is from Saturday 24th October to Monday 26th October 2026 in Brighton. Our Disabled Members Officer Caroline Edwards will be one of our delegates, but we are looking for other members who would like to accompany Caroline as a delegate.
If you would like to attend, please email the unison-office@bristol.ac.uk to express interest by Wednesday 6th August and we can register you for the conference.
➡️ 2026 National Disabled Members Conference | UNISON – the public service union
Labour Link MP Training
The Labour Women’s Network will soon be launching in-person parliamentary training for women who aspire to become MPs and are considering standing at the next GE.
If there are any female Labour Link members interested in attending national political training for women please contact our Labour Link Officer James Nethercote before 26th August.
📽️ Unison film club!
Following the success of our Pride (2014) screening, Unison film club will be back!
We’re aiming to show union-related (however loosely connected!) films monthly in the Richmond Building (SU) cinema.
➡️ Read more
👋 Keep in touch
Check our website for updates: University of Bristol UNISON
Join our branch WhatsApp group: UoB UNISON General Chat
Follow us on Instagram: @unison_bristol_uni
In solidarity,
Your UoB Unison committee 💚💜