Above is Donna Guthrie (Unite London and Eastern Region) speaking to oppose amendments 9 and seeking clarification on why branch officer has been removed from the definition of accountable representative of workers for the purposes of EC, NISC, and Regional Committee.
My branch local rules set out process for elections at our AGM and to increase participation we require that once elected to a branch officer you will drop out of subsequent elections for other roles including workplace rep( shop steward).
This allows for more activists to become elected and involved in representing members and broadens our committee.
We strive to encourage more people black members, women members to stand as branch officers and it shouldn’t be that once they are elected to these roles they cannot stand for election on their regional Committee, NISC or the EC
As joint branch chair I lead negotiations representing members, including collective bargaining on pay, and all industrial matters affecting our members. Our negotiators include branch chair, branch secretary, equality officer and other branch committee members, and we led our pay negotiations to ACAS last year to deliver for workers.
We represent our members views to the employer, declare disputes and failure to agree and actively consult our members at all times. Organising ship and branch meetings, consultative ballots and holding members briefings.
We need to encourage Black and Asian, women, disabled and young members to stand as branch officers and represent and deliver for workers in the workplace. They must also have the right to stand and participate in all Unite constitutional committees including the EC,NISC and the Regional Committee
The union has benefited from branch officers like myself being on our NISC and Regional Committee, able to share what’s going on at branch level and developing strategies for our sectors and the union as a whole. To build confidence and gain support to lead members to take action including industrial action around the country to win on jobs, pay and conditions.
Branch officers are elected accountable representatives of workers and must be included in the Rule 6 definition.
