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www.surreycountyunison.org.uk

organise!


Above: Surrey County Branch Activists and Staff at our recent Branch Development Day

Surrey County Branch Activists gear up
for next 12 months of organising and
supporting members

Paul Couchman, Branch Secretary

Over 30 branch activists spent the day in Guildford on 24 July looking at how we can improve and
develop our UNISON branch. There were representatives there from FE Colleges, HE, Schools,
Surrey County Council and the Community Sector, as well as our branch employed staff and our
Regional Organiser. We also welcomed Louise Barter and Jamie Morris who are going to be working
for the UNISON Regionally and who both start at the end of August. Louise will be based in our
branch, organising in non-SCC employers and Jamie will spend about a day a week with us
organising in schools.

The overall mood was very positive and people had the chance to meet other activists from around
the county. Apart from the lack of air-conditioning (which had several people swooning towards the
end of the day) we persevered and covered a great deal of ground. Thank you to everyone who was
able to attend and participate. A full report of the day and the ideas and actions that came out of it are
inside this special activists newsletter.
BRANCH ACTIVISTS SPECIAL EDITION JULY/AUGUST 2014
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Attendance on the day:

Jane Armitage SCC, Children and Young People, Rep and Deputy Branch Secretary
Nina Boyd SCC, Christs College Rep and Schools Convenor
Jan Callender Branch Employed Office Manager
Stephanie Christensen SCC, Legal Services, Rep
Paula Clark University of the Creative Arts (HE), Rep
Glenn Clift NESCOT FE College, Rep
Alan Clyne SCC, Adults Services Waverley, Rep and Convenor
Paul Couchman SCC, Adults Services, Branch Secretary
Helen Couchman Dimensions (Community Sector), Rep
Ginny Eaton SCC, Woodlands Schhool Rep, Schools Convenor and Branch Chairperson
Kelvin Foote SCC, Childrens Fostering and Adoption Services, Rep
Frank Forde Welmede (Community Sector), Rep
Sandy Gow SCC, Childrens Services, Rep and Branch Treasurer
Istvan Gulyas SCC, Childrens Services, Rep
Andrea Hay SCC, Heath End School, Rep
Sarah-Jane Hilling SCC, Adults, Brockhurst Rep and LGBT Officer
Chloe James SCC, Farnham Library, Rep
Dave Lawrence SCC Adults, Bentley Day Services Rep
Julie Legg Guildford FE College, Rep
Phatho Ncube SCC, Childrens Services and Black Members Officer
Andy Pattinson SCC, Emergency Duty Team Rep and Health and Safety Officer
Sharon Richards SCC, Adults, St Peters Hospital, Rep
Christina Rogers Branch Employed Admin Support
Kala Rosser SCC, Ewell Library, Rep
Tanya San Juan Branch Employed Case Worker
Colin Southern SCC, Collingwood College School, Rep
Helen Treasure SCC, Environment and Infrastructure, Rep and Disabled Members Officer
Teresa Wheeler SCC, Adults, Colebrook Day Services, Rep

Ruth Smith UNISON Regional Organiser
Louise Barter UNISON Regional Local Organiser (starting in the branch end of August)
Jamie Morris UNISON Regional Local Organiser in Schools (starting end of August)

How well are we doing?

The first session of the day was an exercise to look at how well we had worked towards our previous
aims and goals and to explore priorities for moving forward in the next 12 months.

In terms of figures, the branch has done very well.

We have increased our size by almost 500 members in the last year. Some of this was due to
transfers from other branches but overall our recruitment has been steady. Our target of 5,000 full
members is very nearly in reach. At the last count we need to increase by about 85 members to
reach this (this means recruiting over twice that many new members as turnover is always high).

We have gone up to over 120 registered activists:
68 Reps, H&S Reps and Branch Officers and 53 Workplace Contacts.

We have a range of areas in which we could improve our service to members and reps, improve our
recruitment and organising, and some of these are explored on the next pages.


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Feedback from workshops

What have we achieved or are doing well?

What do we still need to work on?


Membership is up and rising
We have more new reps
We have a new, active Black Members
Group
We are actively working towards new
LGBT and Disabled Members Groups,
with Officers dedicated to supporting this
There is a steady flow of good
communication from the branch
We have led a number of collective
disputes which have had successes for
members such as with the Library Loans
and the Runnymede Centre disputes
We are representing members well
There has been increased support to new
stewards
More newsletters which have been
targeted and relevant
Members appear more confident in
UNISONs ability to support them on big
issues such as Surrey Pay
We have developed our work in the non-
SCC employers
We have always been pro-active and not
just responded to things
Overall, the branch team is working
together well
We do regular workplace recruitment
events and cover SCC induction days
There is a genuine intent from leadership
to improve the branch not just standing
still



Poor attendance at our AGM meetings
Poor attendance at Branch Committee
meetings
Nature of Branch Meetings need to be
more relevant and engaging could hold
evening meetings
How we elect members to attend
conferences without taking up lots of
meeting time
We need to change the perception of
members about what it means to be a rep
to encourage more to come forward
we still need more reps!
We need more young members involved
We need more low-paid women workers
involved
We need to look at how we recruit and
organise part-time workers
We are not good at highlighting success
stories
Reps need more contact from the branch
how do we communicate?
Website could be improved and more use
of social media such as Facebook and
Twitter networking of reps
Encourage reps to write for newsletters
The branch could be more united
We should offer more support to our
retired members group
There is not always someone available to
talk to a member or rep who has a query
or needs advice
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How UNISON works nationally, regionally!

We had a very informative session on how UNISON is structured nationally and regionally. It was
commented on by more than one person that UNISON is one of the most complicated organisations
in the entire world (perhaps second only to the European Commission!). It is impossible to explain in
a short newsletter all the various committees and structures in UNISON. Basically, all the different
posts and sections you see in the branch are generally mirrored at a Regional Level and at a National
Level. There are hundreds of ways of becoming more active in UNISON if you want to. Our diverse
structures also mean we are able to be one of the most democratic trade unions in the country. If you
raise an issue at the branch, or in a self-organised group such as the Black Members Group, you can
turn it into a motion (you can get help with this) and get it passed by the branch and sent onto the
regional and national structures for discussion and potential action. The sovereign body of the union
is our annual national conference where your motion could actually be debated and decided upon by
around 3,000 delegates. If you want any more information about how UNISON works and what you
can get involved in please contact us at the branch office or come to a Branch Committee meeting
and ask, we dont bite!

!and in the branch

We divided up the participants into those who regularly attend branch committee meetings and those
who have never been or have only been once or twice. These groups then discussed what it was
about the branch committee meetings that made them want to attend or what stops them from
attending. We also asked what other kinds of meetings or groups would be of interest to activists.

So what did people say made them come?
They want to know what is happening so they
can keep informed and tell members
They want to keep learning and developing and
the branch committee is a good place to do this
They felt they should represent their members at
the meetings so their voice was heard
They found the meetings friendly and
encouraging
Some found it useful to come early or stay
afterward so they can speak to officers
Sometimes we have interesting guest speakers
Officers and Convenors are expected to attend
as part of their role

And what are the barriers or reasons for not attending? What would improve meetings?
The meeting can be too long and seem boring or irrelevant at times - Election processes take up too
much time. We need to look at how to change how we do this - The location, day and time all make it
difficult for some people to attend - County Hall is not an ideal venue (except that it is where the
UNISON office and officers are based) - The Chair should stick to formal rules of debate so meetings
dont go on too long - The meeting could break into service/employer groups to discuss specifics
Getting the time off to attend during work can be difficult. Some reps need support to talk to
managers about this - Detailed UNISON business could be done by officers before the meetings -
Look at Skype/video conferencing. Other kinds of meetings which might attract more interest would
be service-based or employer based meetings. These could focus on specific work issues. We could
also look at some other groups such as Nepalese or Polish workers groups. Social events were also
mentioned but maybe with a work element. If food and childcare were provided for evening meetings
we may encourage more women in particular to attend.
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Organising to Win!

The picture on the left shows a group of
UNISON members who were supported to
make a stand earlier this year when they were
suddenly told they would not be returning to
their workplace the Runnymede Centre in
Chertsey. The staff had volunteered to be
temporarily relocated when the army asked to
use the centre to act as a flood relief base.
When the floods were over and the army
moved out, staff expected a date to return.
Instead they heard mostly second hand that
they were to be permanently reloated and that
the centre would close.

UNISON immediately sprang into action, with Jane Armitage and Kelvin Foote organising meetings of
members and staff to discuss what had happened and agree a positive way forward. It was decided
to lodge a formal collective industrial dispute with the council and to organise a return to work
protest on a set day at the centre. In the end, after a series of negotiations, staff were allowed to
return and a proper consultation process was instigated. The council has accepted that the way the
decision had been communicated and the lack of consultation are learning points for the future and
have apologised to staff. UNISON have actually been thanked for the constructive way in which we
handled the situation.

At the development day, we wanted to make sure that as many of our activists as possible were
armed with the knowledge of what to do if faced with a situation like this, or any situation that needs a
swift response. 5 groups took on the challenge of 5 different case studies based on real situations
in: a school which wants to cut pay by 10%; a Library threatened with closure; an FE College
threatening not to honour a national pay rise; A social Work team at crisis point with caseloads and a
Residential Care Home run by a national charity which says they need to make drastic cuts in pay,
terms and conditions. For most people, this appeared to be the best activity of the day discussing
real-life issues which they may have to deal with as reps. The discussion was wide-ranging and
detailed but everyone agreed the priorities:

Always talk to members first (keep talking to them via meetings or newsheets/social media)
Consider involving non-members as a chance to recruit them
Offer members all available options and make it clear what they might need to do to succeed
Get an idea of what members would be prepared to accept as a compromise or whether they
want to fight the whole proposal
Always make sure your members are behind whatever plan of action you decide upon
Talk to the UNISON branch for advice and support
Make sure you know the FACTS. Do research and find out what you need to know get
management to try to prove their argument with real facts and figures. You still dont need to
agree.
Look for allies in the community service users, parents and carers, local press and media
Use the formal dispute processes check with the branch officers/convenors
Be prepared to campaign hard and make it as difficult as possible for the employer whilst
being ready and willing to sit and discuss with them
Ask the branch and/or regional office whether there are any potential legal options open to you
to challenge the proposals.
Remember any group of workers has the strength and power to challenge injustice if it acts
together in UNISON! We dont just have to take it lying down.
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What do YOU need from the branch?

We, the Branch Officers, asked what YOU felt you needed from us
and from the branch office to help you as reps and activists. This can
be grouped under 5 general headings:

Training and Mentoring regular training updates and a named
person from the officers/convenors who will provide advice and
support

Communications regular communications from the branch.
Improvements to the website (perhaps a closed reps area). Supplies
of relevant campaign materials, recruitment freebies and newsletters
etc.

Networking the chance to network with other reps, via email, website or social media (closed FB
group). Regular service-level or employer-level activists meetings at a time and place which is
accessible to as many as possible

Support with managers branch support when you find it difficult to get agreement for facilities from
your manager, such as a locked cabinet, a notice board, access to an office, phone/photocopier and
time off to attend meetings etc.

Advice A named person to be able to contact if you need immediate advice (during a hearing etc.).
Access to employment law books and information, support with challenging and complex cases. Easy
to access legal advice.

What happens now?
The Branch Secretary and Branch Committee will look at all the thoughts and ideas from the day and
work out what we can and cant do immediately and what we can start working on. We cant promise
to make things perfect (we are only volunteers after all) but we have a shared commitment to
continually improving and developing the way our branch works and involving the widest possible
layer of people within it. Hopefully you will see some things happen and be able to say thats what
we suggested at the Branch Development Day.

Surrey County Branch Annual General
Meeting/s
We also managed to squeeze in a short discussion on the future shape of our AGM meetings. There
is not space to go into detail here and it is still a work in progress but please consider whether
UNISON members at your workplace could hold an annual meeting in March as part of a range of
workplace meetings across the county.

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