Branch Constitution & Rules

1. BRANCH NAME

The name of the branch shall be "Bradford Metropolitan District" Branch of Unison.

The Branch represents employees of:

Bradford Council
Bradford College
Shipley College
Keighley College
Bradford Careers Ltd
Other Employers Providing Council Services

2. RELATIONSHIP TO NATIONAL ORGANISATION

(a) Branch rules shall be in accordance with national rules, decisions of the Annual Delegate Conference and the NEC.

(b) Any member may have a copy of the current Rule Book.

(c) The Branch shall make an audited annual return of branch income, expenditure, assets and liabilities as prescribed by the NEC and in accordance with national rules.

3.  AIMS OF THE BRANCH

The aims of the Branch shall be in accordance with the aims and values of Unison as set out in the Rule Book.

4.  MEMBERSHIP

(a) Eligibility for membership shall be in accordance with the Rules of the union.

(b) Every person wishing to become a member shall complete and sign a prescribed form of application for membership, using her or his full name and giving her or his address, and shall return it to the Branch Secretary of the Branch.  Any person who is, or has been, in membership of the Freemasons must declare this, in writing, at the time of completing the application form for UNISON membership.

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(c) Providing that (a) the applicant is eligible for membership within these Rules and has not previously been expelled or barred from membership of the Union or ahs not previously ceased to be a member whilst a disciplinary charge against her/him was outstanding and (b) the Branch or Branch Committee at its next meeting does not decide to refuse the applicant membership, she/he shall become a member of the appropriate Branch following receipt of her/his properly completed application form having due regard for the Disability Discrimination Act where appropriate by the Branch or Head Office and from the date on which the first contribution is made.
           
(d)  Members shall be entitled to vote in statutory election from the date of inclusion in the Union’s central membership register or from the qualifying date for participation in an election as specified in regulations made by the National Executive Council.

(e) No person shall be a member of more than one branch of the Union at any one time.

(f)  If the Branch declines to support an application, the applicant shall be advised in writing of the reasons for the decision, which must be consistent with the Rules of the Union.

(g) Any person whose application for membership or transfer has been rejected has the right of appeal to a regional appeals committee against the decision of the Branch.  The procedure to be adopted will be the same as in the case of a disciplinary hearing.

(h) The member must have been in membership of the Union for at least 13 weeks prior to the member knowing that she/he had need of legal assistance and seeks legal assistance from the Union.

(i) All members must comply with the Rules, and if any member “acts in a manner prejudicial or detrimental  to the union, his/her branch, region or service group (Rule I.2.2 of the National Rule Book), the Disciplinary Sub Committee would then have to take the necessary action and strictly enforce Rule D of the national Rule Book.

(j) The NEC may terminate an individual's membership in accordance with the Rules.

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5. BRANCH STRUCTURE

(a) There will be an Annual General Meeting of the Branch to elect branch officers and members of the branch committee.

(b) The AGM will determine the basis of representation in the Branch and the number of stewards to be elected in each work group or workplace.

 (c) The Branch will keep a bank/building society account in the name of the Bradford Metropolitan District Branch.

6. BRANCH OFFICERS

(a) The Branch shall elect the following officers annually:
       * Branch Chairperson
       * Branch Secretary
       * Branch Treasurer
       * Assistant Treasurer
       * APF Officer (to be elected at APF Meeting)
       * Equality Officer
       * Health and Safety Officer
       * Recruitment Officer
       * Service Conditions Officer
       * Assistant Service Conditions Officer
       * Assistant Service Conditions Officer (Best Value)
       * Sports & Social Officer
       * Education & Training Officer
       * Publicity Officer
       * Communications Officer
       * International Officer
       * Youth Officer
       * Auditors
                       
(b)  Branch Officers may be nominated by the Branch Committee or any two members, Officer positions may be held on a job share basis in one or two ways, with the exception of the Treasurer’s post and the Assistant Treasurer’s post.

(i)  A joint nomination of two specified members. If elected on this basis should one of the two stand down there must be a re-election for the whole post.
                
(ii)  Individual nominations to hold half the post shared with a second separately nominated job share.  In this case the nominees will have separate manifestos, be elected separately, and if elected continue in office if the other job share officer stands down.

(iii)  The Affiliated Political Fund Officer will be elected annually by Branch members who have opted to pay into the fund.  Any two such members may make nominations.

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(c) All nominations must be received in writing at least 2 weeks before the AGM.

(d) Each nominee will be notified and given the right to withdraw not later than one day before the AGM.

(e) If there is more than one candidate a vote will be held.

(f) The vote may be conducted by a show of hands or by a ballot.
                                                                          
(g)  In the event of a ballot, official papers will be supplied and each member of the Branch shall be entitled to one vote in respect of each post to be filled. Arrangements may be made for a postal ballot if appropriate.

(h) The branch officers elected under rule 5(a) shall serve until the succeeding Annual General Meeting of the Branch.

7.  BRANCH COMMITTEE

(a) Representation on the Branch Committee will include:
          *  Branch Officers
          *  Two representatives from each of the self-organised group.
          *  Stewards from each work group or workplace.

(b)  The Branch Committee shall administer branch business in accordance with the national rules and guidance.

(c) The quorum for the Branch Committee shall be 30 members of the committee.

(d) The Branch Committee will establish arrangements for representation of members.

 (e) Each department will be divided into workplaces of approximately 25 members, each with their own steward; the workplace will as near as possible reflect the structures of management. Every steward shall be a member of the Branch Committee.
           
(f)  Each department shall at least 14 days prior to the Annual Meeting forward to the Branch Secretary the names of stewards appointed.  In the event of any department failing to make any such appointment, stewards for that department may be appointed at the Annual Meeting.  Any vacancy in departmental representation arising during the year shall be filled from the department where the vacancy occurs, or in default by the Branch Committee. In the event of a ballot being necessary for the filling of vacancies, such ballot shall be conducted under the supervision of the officers of the Branch.

(g) The Branch Chairperson, Branch Secretary and Branch Treasurer shall be ex-officio members of all sub-committees.

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8.  BRANCH COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS

The functions of the Branch Committee shall be:

(a) To meet not less than six times each year.

(b) To receive at each meeting reports from the Branch Secretary, Branch Treasurer, sectional secretaries and any other branch officers and to take all steps necessary to maintain the domestic machinery of the branch in effective working order.

(c) To consider and deal with all matters of ordinary current administration and all matters affecting the interests of members of the branch, whether raised by members thereof or arising on communications from headquarters of the union, the regional council or otherwise.

(d) To deal with all questions of emergency.

(e) To appoint a Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee and a Branch Negotiating Committee of the Joint Consultative Committee at the first meeting of the Branch Committee, which shall remain in office until new Committees are appointed. 
            The Finance and General Purposes Committee shall consist of the Branch Officers as elected under rule 5(a), with the exception of the Branch Auditors,      plus 10 members of the Branch Committee.
           The Branch Negotiating Committee of the Joint Consultative Committee shall consist of the Branch Chairperson and Branch Secretary plus 10 members of the Branch Committee.

(f) To appoint other sub-committees and working groups with power to co-opt                              thereon members of the branch who may not be members of the Branch                                    Committee.

(g) To submit a report on its activities to the Annual Meeting of the branch.

(h) To fill casual vacancies not otherwise provided for by these rules.
            (i) To co-ordinate the activities of the branch in the field of health and safety.
            (j) To agree such arrangements as are required to ensure the fullest possible participation and representation of interests of members of the self-organised groups at all levels of the branch.

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9.         BRANCH OFFICER DUTIES

Branch officer duties will be in line with the organisation's National Rules and the Code of Good Branch Practice.

10.       WORKPLACE ORGANISATION

Each department will be responsible for organising a departmental stewards committee and appointing a Chairperson, Secretary, Departmental Negotiator and a delegate to the Branch Negotiating Committee, subject to approval by the Branch Committee. 
           
After each departmental committee meeting the Secretary shall send a copy of the minutes to the Branch Secretary.
           
Sub-committees of each department shall be elected as and when required.

All departmental committees shall also fulfil the function of health and safety at work committees.

Self-Organised Groups - The Branch supports the principle of the need for self-organisation by members of disadvantaged groups, specifically women members, lesbian and gay members, black members and members with disabilities. The Branch will provide such resources and financial support as is necessary to assist and promote this self-organisation.

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11.       SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

(a) Special General Meetings shall be called in pursuance of a resolution passed by the Branch Committee.

(b) At any time within 28 days of the receipt by the Branch Secretary of a requisition in writing signed by the number of members needed to make up the Branch quorum (150 members).  The issue for consideration must be specified when the meeting is called for.

Special Meetings are subject to the same procedures as the annual branch meetings(s). Members will be informed of the subject(s) for discussion when          notified of the meeting arrangements.

12.       ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held as far as practicable in March.A minimum of seven days notice of the Annual General Meeting, including a Special General Meeting, shall be given to each member.

(b) Motions for discussion at the AGM shall be sent to the Branch Secretary not less than fourteen days prior to the date of the meeting.

13. QUORUM

The quorum of the Branch shall be 150 members.

14. BRANCH REPRESENTATION AT MEETINGS OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND AT CONFERENCES OF THE UNION

The Branch Chairperson and Branch Secretary shall represent the branch at meetings of the Regional Council, at National Conference and at Group Meetings.  The remaining representatives shall be elected by the Branch Committee by such method that the Branch Committee shall decide to represent the interests of disadvantaged groups within the Branch.  Whenever practicable the branch shall be fully represented at meetings of the Regional Council and at Conference. In the event of an elected representative being unable to attend, a substitute may be appointed. 

A retired member shall not be eligible to represent the Branch at a Regional Council or at Conference.

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15.  EXPENSES OF REPRESENTATIVES

There shall be paid out of the funds of the branch the travelling and other expenses properly incurred by members when attending meetings on behalf of the branch in a   representative capacity.

16. ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

The annual report and a duly audited statement of accounts shall be submitted to the Annual Meeting and a copy of each shall be submitted to the Regional Council and to Headquarters and (if the branch committee so decide) to each member of the branch.

17. BRANCH FUNDS

All reserves of the branch which shall be termed accumulated funds shall, excluding those held in the form of an Industrial Action Fund and those in the form of fixed assets (eg. premises, equipment, fixtures and fittings, etc), be deemed generally available for expenditure in the branch.  This rule shall not apply to Premises funds established by prescription under these rules.  

18. INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS

An employed official of the union shall be entitled to inspect the books and financial records of the Branch.

19.  BRANCH'S BANKERS:  The Branch's bankers shall be Unity Trust.

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20.  CONDUCT OF MEETINGS

(a)  All meetings will be conducted in a fair and democratic manner.

(b)  All meetings will be advertised widely as far in advance as possible.

(c)  The procedures to be used at the meeting will be agreed at the Annual General                          Meeting.

(d) Branches will maintain records of meetings, financial records, books of accounts and other appropriate records to enable the branch to function.

21.   MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Communications to the media on behalf of the branch shall be made only by the following Officer(s) authorised by the Branch Committee.

Branch Secretary(s)                             
Branch Chair(s)
Service Conditions Officer                   
Regional Officer

22.  AFFILIATIONS

(a) Affiliations to relevant constituency Labour Parties will be decided by the APF membership.

(b) Affiliations to trades councils shall be determined by the AGM or Branch Committee.

23.  DONATIONS

Donations shall be agreed by the AGM or Branch Committee or F & GP committee in accordance with the Union's policies and objectives and subject to provisions of national rule.

24.  EXPENSES

Rates of expenses for members attending meetings on behalf of the branch shall be agreed by the AGM or branch committee.

25.  ALTERATION OF RULES

These rules shall only be altered or rescinded with the consent of at least two thirds of the members present and voting at the Annual Meeting or at a Special Meeting and the notice convening the meeting shall state the terms of the proposed alteration. No alteration shall be operative until approved by the National Executive Council.

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