Welcome to the Lancaster University Branch of UNISON.
We are a branch of the national trade union UNISON, and at Lancaster University we represent members from across the organisation who have administrative, technical, support and manual roles – collectively known as Professional Services. We also have members who are employed by organisations external to the University, who work on the University campus, for example LUSU.
Our news is shared via email (to your preferred email address, using our secure UNISON membership database), and more frequently via our Teams site, which all members can join. Just click here to request to join that Teams site.
We are an officially recognised trade union at Lancaster University – along with Unite and UCU – for the purposes of consultation and negotiation. The three trade unions work together on all restructurings or other big projects, to support members across all areas. Together, we have your back!
If you’re interested in joining us, you can email the branch to find out more (unison@lancaster.ac.uk), or join online at join.unison.org.uk.
If you’d like to find out more about getting involved with the branch, come to one of our meetings, or email unison@lancaster.ac.uk
If you’re already a UNISON member at Lancaster University, and are experiencing an issue in the workplace for which you need support, advice or representation, please email unison@lancaster.ac.uk
Please note: UNISON has a ‘four week rule’ which is strictly adhered to. You must have been a member of the union for at least four weeks prior to any incident/occurrence taking place for which you require union assistance or representation.
To help manage our limited time resource, below are guidelines on approaching us if you need help.
- Please don’t leave it too late: we appreciate that some issues come out of the blue, but if you do get an inkling that problems are coming, please speak to us at that point. We are in a position to provide better support when matters have not yet reached an urgent or critical stage!
- We’ve recently had experience of some members being rude or short tempered with representatives. Please bear in mind that we are doing the work of officers or representatives in addition to substantive roles within the University, and cannot turn things around on a sixpence, particularly when a matter has reached an urgent or critical stage before we’re aware of it.
- If you have a query, please take a moment to look through existing HR Policies & Procedures, or existing Health & Safety guidance. In the vast majority of queries we often ask you to do this as a first step, so you can frame your first questions.