www.surreycountyunison.org.

uk
https://www.facebook.com/groups/surreycountyunison/
Twitter: @SurreyUNISON

organise !
UNISON/Dimensions in Surrey - May 2015

Join UNISON today! Call 0800 171 2193 or visit joinunison.org

UNISON welcomes new

National Convenor role
Dimensions Support Worker, Steve Thomas,
has recently been seconded from Dimensions
to act as National Convenor for all UNISON
members in Dimensions.
What is a National Convenor?
A day in the life
Steve: When the role of a Union Convenor
was formalised as a stand alone post, it was
very much up to me as to how I made the role
work. The post is a secondment for one year from my support
worker role with in Dimensions for 20 hours a week.
Rather than doing the 20 hours over a three day period i.e.
Monday to Wednesday with the rest of the week off, I decided to
be on call over the whole week. This means that if an issue arises
that needs urgent attention on Friday afternoon rather than say
sorry I am not working today I will address the situation.
This could mean being able to pick up any issues UNISON
members have, dealing with members being suspended through to
issues re membership, through to any management issues that are
on the agenda. This might involve issues through my role on the
National Staff Forum and the Joint Negotiating Committee.
Another part of the role is to try to build up the number of reps
within the Dimensions UNISON workforce which involves
mapping exercises, identifying where members are and if they are
willing to become reps. Also strategies to try to recruit members to
join UNISON, which might mean being involved in induction
days with a UNISON recruitment table, and looking for any other
ideas for recruitment.

Your local UNISON

Representative
At a local level, Helen
Couchman is your UNISON
Representative, or Steward.
What is a Steward?
Workplace stewards are the
heart of our trade union. The
role involves helping to organise
colleagues into an effective,
strong and welcoming
membership.
As a steward, you are the first
point of contact for members in the workplace, and help
members to keep in touch with UNISON news.
Key to the role is encouraging colleagues to join
UNISON, and also offering advice on issues at work. All
stewards are required to attend a 5-day training course
and receive ERA (Employment Rights Act) accreditation.
If a member has a problem at work, a steward can
represent the member in disciplinary hearings and
grievances.
In addition to her role as a workplace steward, Helen
also sits on the Community Service Group Executive,
which is the main decision-making body for Community
members in UNISON. The Community Service Group
covers all members who work for charitable, voluntary
and not-for profit organisations, including Dimensions.
You can get in touch with Helen at:
helen.couchman@dimensions-uk.org

Do you work in Residential Care, Homecare or Supported Living in Surrey? If so, then please can
you take a few minutes to complete our online survey? The replies to the survey will help us to
support you better in your workplace, and plan future training for members and activists. You can
access the survey via the following link:

www.unisonsoutheast.org.uk/caresurvey

Regional Staff forum

What is the Staff Forum?
The Dimensions Staff Forum is a regular meeting of
staff from across Dimensions. There are regular
regional meetings, where local-level issues can be
discussed, and also a quarterly meeting for
organisation-wide issues that cannot be solved
locally, or affect a wider number of staff. The
meetings are your opportunity to have your views
heard.

When is the Staff Forum?

The next meeting is:
Tuesday 12th May 2015 10.30am to 1.30pm
Upcoming meetings for 2015:
Tuesday 11th August 10.30am to 1.30pm
Tuesday 10th November 10.30am to 1.30pm

Who can attend?

Any employee can attend the meetings. UNISON
would encourage all members to try and attend, both
to keep in touch with current issues and also to have
an opportunity to raise any issues affecting you and
your colleagues.

Where are the meetings?

Regional meetings are held at
Outreach 3 Way, Ifield Avenue, Ifield,
Crawley, West Sussex RH11 0JX.
Please remember, these meetings are your
opportunity to have your say and open to all
employees. If you are a UNISON member and
have difficulties getting to the staff forum, please
get in touch.
Please speak to Helen in the first instance:
helen.couchman@dimensions-uk.org

Keep your colleagues up to date!

Please print a copy of this newsletter and
display it on your noticeboard at work.

Benefits of UNISON membership

What is a trade union? A trade union is a group of people
who have joined together to achieve better pay and working
conditions and a safer working environment. Trade unions
negotiate with employers on behalf of union members to agree
wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing
hiring, firing and promotion of workers, benefits, workplace
safety and other policies.
Why join a trade union? Members benefit form the
strength and security that comes from people working together
to tackle problems. In UNISON, as well as getting support
when you need it at work you will have access to a wide range
of help and benefits including:
legal services for you at home and family at home
Financial assistance and debt advice in times of need
Our helpline open until midnight
Compensation for accidents and injuries at work
Member discounts on things like insurance and new
cars, including up to 50% off holidays
education, training and support
UNISON is the recognised trade union for all
Dimensions staff.
We negotiate on behalf on members on pay, terms and
conditions and ensure that members views are heard at all
levels within Dimensions. Joining UNISON helps to strengthen
the collective voice for all Dimensions staff, along with giving
you access to the usual member benefits.
Join UNISON today, online at joinunison.org, or speak to
your local representative, Helen Couchman:
helen.couchman@dimensions-uk.org

Keep in touch!
If you have any issues in your workplace and
are a UNISON member, you need to tell us so
that we can assist you. Your local UNISON
representative is Helen Couchman,
helen.couchman@dimensions-uk.org
You can also speak to your Local Organiser,
Louise Barter on l.barter@unison.co.uk