Terms and Conditions of providing assistance
1. UNISON seeks to ensure that members are provided with the best possible advice and assistance to achieve a satisfactory outcome to matters of grievance and discipline. UNISON will determine the most appropriate representative for your case. This may mean reallocating the case at a later stage and you will be informed of any such decision.
2. UNISON representatives and members are expected under UNISON rules to treat one another with respect. Failure to do so by a UNISON representative will entitle you to make a complaint in accordance with UNISON’s Complaints Procedure: www.unison.org.uk/upload/sharepoint/Policies/COMPLAINTS_PROCEDURE.pdf. Failure by you to treat your representative with respect may lead to support being withdrawn from you.
3. At all times, action taken on your behalf will be on the basis of agreement reached between you and your representative about the best way UNISON can assist you. Throughout the procedure you will be kept informed and no decision will be made without first consulting you. Should you decide at any point not to accept the advice of your UNISON representative then you are free to proceed without UNISON assistance. Please inform UNISON if you no longer require UNISON’s assistance in these circumstances.
4. The Declarations at Section 12 must be signed if a potential legal claim is identified. UNISON supports claims to an Employment Tribunal, where a legal claim has been assessed by our solicitors as having reasonable prospects of success.
5. Until UNISON or its solicitors confirms in writing that it is acting for you in a legal claim, any responsibility for lodging a claim in an Employment Tribunal or Court (including County Courts, Sheriff Courts and appeal Courts) is yours alone.
6. UNISON representation is provided on the understanding that UNISON is your sole representative. UNISON cannot be held responsible for any costs or expense incurred if you have opted out from UNISON assistance or if UNISON representation has been withdrawn. Nor will UNISON be responsible for providing assistance in respect of any appeal or higher level hearing against a decision arising from representations made after you have opted out from UNISON assistance or after UNISON assistance has been withdrawn.
7. You are expected to cooperate with your representative by being honest and frank about any allegation against you and in respect of any grievance you have. Your representative can only assist you if they are in possession of the full facts. Failure to cooperate can lead to UNISON support being withdrawn.
8. You must notify your representative immediately if your circumstances change or if any new information comes to light regarding your case.
9. You must ensure that your personal and financial information is accurate and up to date at the time that you apply for assistance. You must also confirm that your UNISON subscriptions are up to date. If you have given information which is misleading UNISON has the right to withdraw support.
10. In the event of UNISON support being withdrawn you have the right to appeal to your branch secretary in the first instance unless notified otherwise.
11. You must remain a member of UNISON throughout any period during which UNISON is providing advice and assistance to you. This means that if you are unemployed by reason of dismissal or redundancy you must pay a UNISON subscription at the Unemployed Member’s rate; if you gain new employment within or outside of the areas of UNISON organisation you must maintain a UNISON subscription according to your earnings band as set out in Schedule A of the UNISON Rule book.
12. UNISON reserves the right to use the details of your case and outcome in publicity, case study or learning materials, subject to your name only being used with your permission.
2. UNISON representatives and members are expected under UNISON rules to treat one another with respect. Failure to do so by a UNISON representative will entitle you to make a complaint in accordance with UNISON’s Complaints Procedure: www.unison.org.uk/upload/sharepoint/Policies/COMPLAINTS_PROCEDURE.pdf. Failure by you to treat your representative with respect may lead to support being withdrawn from you.
3. At all times, action taken on your behalf will be on the basis of agreement reached between you and your representative about the best way UNISON can assist you. Throughout the procedure you will be kept informed and no decision will be made without first consulting you. Should you decide at any point not to accept the advice of your UNISON representative then you are free to proceed without UNISON assistance. Please inform UNISON if you no longer require UNISON’s assistance in these circumstances.
4. The Declarations at Section 12 must be signed if a potential legal claim is identified. UNISON supports claims to an Employment Tribunal, where a legal claim has been assessed by our solicitors as having reasonable prospects of success.
5. Until UNISON or its solicitors confirms in writing that it is acting for you in a legal claim, any responsibility for lodging a claim in an Employment Tribunal or Court (including County Courts, Sheriff Courts and appeal Courts) is yours alone.
6. UNISON representation is provided on the understanding that UNISON is your sole representative. UNISON cannot be held responsible for any costs or expense incurred if you have opted out from UNISON assistance or if UNISON representation has been withdrawn. Nor will UNISON be responsible for providing assistance in respect of any appeal or higher level hearing against a decision arising from representations made after you have opted out from UNISON assistance or after UNISON assistance has been withdrawn.
7. You are expected to cooperate with your representative by being honest and frank about any allegation against you and in respect of any grievance you have. Your representative can only assist you if they are in possession of the full facts. Failure to cooperate can lead to UNISON support being withdrawn.
8. You must notify your representative immediately if your circumstances change or if any new information comes to light regarding your case.
9. You must ensure that your personal and financial information is accurate and up to date at the time that you apply for assistance. You must also confirm that your UNISON subscriptions are up to date. If you have given information which is misleading UNISON has the right to withdraw support.
10. In the event of UNISON support being withdrawn you have the right to appeal to your branch secretary in the first instance unless notified otherwise.
11. You must remain a member of UNISON throughout any period during which UNISON is providing advice and assistance to you. This means that if you are unemployed by reason of dismissal or redundancy you must pay a UNISON subscription at the Unemployed Member’s rate; if you gain new employment within or outside of the areas of UNISON organisation you must maintain a UNISON subscription according to your earnings band as set out in Schedule A of the UNISON Rule book.
12. UNISON reserves the right to use the details of your case and outcome in publicity, case study or learning materials, subject to your name only being used with your permission.
