Branch Officers and Workplace Reps
UNISON has 1,200 branches in the UK. A branch is made up of all its members.
Our volunteer workplace reps play a vital day-to-day role in helping UNISON members.
They are organisers who talk to, recruit and organise members around workplace issues, hold meetings, undertake surveys and help run ballots. They give members information about union issues by publicising UNISON campaigns, distributing leaflets and keeping members informed about and involved in local negotiations. They are advisers and sounding boards, talking to members about workplace problems and – if they feel confident – giving advice on how to deal with these. Alternatively, they may arrange for the member to get advice or assistance from elsewhere in the union, or work with them to get the information they need. They are representatives and spokespersons for members in their workplace. Reps also act as a link between members, other union representatives and the national organisation. Where the union has a recognition agreement, stewards, health and safety reps and learning reps have a legal right to ‘reasonable’ time off for union duties. Good recognition agreements may also allow some time off for union activities – rather than duties – but with will depend on the particular agreement and employer. Support is available for UNISON reps from your branch and region, as well as more experienced colleagues, and every region runs training courses for reps throughout the year.
Find your Rep
Search for a Rep by your employer, workplace or name below. If you don’t currently have a workplace rep, why not speak to colleagues about electing someone. Find out more here.
Branch Officers
Members are elected by the workforce to fulfil different roles in the running of the branch.
Your Bristol Branch Officers are:
Paula Sharley
Branch Chair
Facilitates Branch and committee meetings.
Tom Merchant
Branch Secretary
The main contact person with the wider union who manages Branch administration.
Mark Munday
Membership Officer
Keeps track of the branch’s membership and works to develop recruitment and organising.
Claire Evans
Equalities Co-ordinator
Work on equal rights issues including sex, race, disability and LGBT issues. Co-ordinates Self-Organised activities in the Branch.
Teresa Crichton
Communications Officer
Co-ordinates Branch newsletters, websites and other media.
Rebecca Laine
Disabled Members Officers
Organises and works to prioritise issues for Disabled Members at Branch and Regional level.
Barry Scrase
Co - Disabled Members Officer
Organises and works to prioritise issues for Disabled Members at Branch and Regional level.
Marius Jennings
LGBT+ Officer
Organises and works to prioritise issues for LGBT+ Members at Branch and Regional level
Georgie Crichton
Women's Officer and Young Members Officer
Organises and works to prioritise issues for Women Members at Branch and Regional level
Georgia Ramsay
Black Members Officer
Organises the Black Members groups at Branch and Regional level
Laura Protheroe
Labour Link Officer
Contact point for information about regional and national UNISON Labour Link matters
Ian Watkins
Climate Officer
Co-ordinates the union’s environmental agenda in the branch and build links and campaigns to stop climate chaos
Lynne Parfitt
International Officer
Develops and leads on international solidarity activities including campaigns, twinning with sister unions and support for projects abroad.
The following Branch Officer positions are currently vacant. Please contact us if you are interested in receiving more information about any of these roles.
Vacant
Welfare Officer
Makes sure that that members seeking welfare assistance receive a prompt, supportive and effective response.
Vacant
CVS Convenor
Senior reps in departments and sectors of the community and voluntary sector
Vacant
Treasurer
Responsible for managing Branch finances, including keeping accounts.
Vacant
Education Co-ordinator
Helps arrange training courses and education programmes for members, stewards, health and safety reps and Branch officers.