What are the roles and responsibilities of a delegate?
A delegate is someone who ensures that everyone on their worksite is kept up to date, and helps distribute information to their workmates. They are the first port of call for their workmates and for the union’s staff. Delegates are the link between United Voice members, their union and the union’s staff.
Having an organised workplace with a delegate structure is important for ensuring that we can exercise the rights we have, and continually look to improving these rights. In an organised workplace, workers are treated with respect and fairness.
A key task of being a delegate is ensuring that every new worker is invited to join the union, and is aware of their rights at work. So talking to these people in their first few days is essential. Making sure everyone is in the union is how a delegate builds an organised workplace.
A delegate doesn’t need to be an expert on everything, but needs to understand why it’s important that everyone looks out for each other and sticks together in the union.
Delegates are often required to answer questions from members and potential members, and will sometimes contact the union office to get this information. Delegates are on the ground, engaging with their peers and listening to their co-workers who know that they can turn to their delegate for help and support.
Delegates keep an eye on any issues in the workplace because working together with other members means that we are all are in a much stronger position to deal with any problems that come up. Every grievance that comes up might also affect other workers and this presents a good opportunity for the delegate to help the workers act together to remedy it.
Delegates will often meet with the employer to discuss any issues at the workplace and ways to work together to make the workplace better for all.
Being a delegate allows you to become more involved with your union in a formal or informal way. You get to meet like-minded people and learn more about the industry that you work in. Delegates develop many skills through formal and informal training including communication, negotiations, leadership, analysis, planning and facilitation. You can attend general meetings which are every 4 months or be an elected rank-and-file member and go to branch council meetings. Branch councils are held regularly and help set the agenda and direction of the union. Through participating in meetings, delegates are involved in planning the union’s activities from the level of workplace organising right through to national campaigns.
When it is time to negotiate a union collective agreement at the workplace or across the industry, delegates play a vital role in representing the workforce.
Delegates also play a key role in the union’s political work. When United Voice meets with politicians to discuss industry reforms and legislation, delegates are there to provide a powerful first hand account of their experience in their industry.
