Get Active!

• In this Section:
• Become a Steward
• Become a Workplace Contact
• Become a Branch Officer
• Become a Health and Safety Steward
• Become a Learning Rep
• Become an Equality Rep

Equality Officer

The branch equality officer has a number of important functions. It is not expected that the office holder will be the font of all knowledge on every equality issue, nor carry sole responsibility for the branch’s equality work. Everyone shares responsibility for tackling prejudice and discrimination and promoting equality. The role of the branch equality officer is to co-ordinate and monitor this shared responsibility.

Tasks relating to the office of equality officer:

• to be the identified and well publicised point of contact in the branch for equality issues
   
• to collect and share information on equalities issues, including information from the regional and national self-organised groups
  l to make sure other branch officers and the branch committee consider the equalities dimension of everything they do
   
• to make sure “equal opportunities” is being raised in all collective bargaining – not just in bargaining on ‘pure’ equalities issues
  l to encourage and support the development of branch self-organised groups on behalf of the branch committee
   
• to have a co-ordinating role among the self-organised groups, and between the self-organised groups and the rest of the branch
   
• to make sure new recruits know about UNISON’s commitment to equality and opportunities to participate in self-organisation
  l to advise the branch officers and branch committee on the development and monitoring of the action plan to achieve proportionality and fair representation;
   
• to co-ordinate the development and training of members from under-represented groups.
   
• to coordinate motions and support to delegates attending self-organised group conferences.

Click here for details about training to help undertake this role.