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About the Branch

National Delegate ConferenceAberdeen Universities UNISON branch, is the officially recognised trade union for professional and support staff at both the Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen. 

The branch works to represent and protect your interests in negotiations and consultations with the Universities.  We also work in partnership to promote and enhance intiatives which benefit staff members or which further UNISON's policies.

Our Structure

We are a single UNISON branch for the purposes of branch membership and administration, however we of course deal with two distinct employers.  As such our branch is structured with a single overall branch committee, but two seperate "Stewards Committee's" at each of the Universities.

Stewards Committees

The stewards committees are responsible for dealing with the employers regarding matters of negotiation and consultation, and for providing individual representation when members need us.  The stewards committees are chaired by local Conveners.

Stewards Committee Conveners
University of Aberdeen Mr Owen Cox o.m.cox@abdn.ac.uk 01224 27 3327
Robert Gordon University Mr Colin Jones c.jones@rgu.ac.uk 01224 26 2178

Branch Committee

The branch committee is made up of elected stewards and lay officers from both Universities.  The branch committee governs the overall branch activity, and meets at various times throughout the year.

Position Name E-Mail Phone
Branch Chair Mr Owen Cox o.m.cox@abdn.ac.uk 01224 27 3327
Branch Secretary Laura Benvie laura.benvie@abdn.ac.uk  
Branch Treasurer Mr Colin Jones c.jones@rgu.ac.uk 01224 26 2178
Communications Officers Mr Colin Jones c.jones@rgu.ac.uk 01224 26 2178
Mr Frederic Bayer frederic.bayer@abdn.ac.uk 01224 27 3714
Health & Safety Officers Ms Shirley Cooper (UoA) scooper@abdn.ac.uk  
Mr Iain McLenan (RGU) i.mclenan@rgu.ac.uk 01224 26 3999
01224 26 3444
Membership Officer Mr Colin Jones c.jones@rgu.ac.uk 01224 26 2178
Welfare Officer Laura Benvie laura.benvie@abdn.ac.uk  
Labour Link Officer Mr Colin Jones c.jones@rgu.ac.uk 01224 26 2178
Environmental Officer Vacant
Education Co-ordinator Vacant
Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator Vacant
Equality Co-ordinator Dr Abeer Eladany abeer.eladany@abdn.ac.uk  
Black Members' Officer Vacant
Disabled Members' Officer Vacant
LGBT+ Members' Officer Mr Hamish Walker    
Women Members' Officer Vacant
Young Members' Officer Ms Niamh Stolvoort niamh.unison@outlook.com 01224 27 3177

Branch Stewards

University of Aberdeen
Mr Owen Cox o.m.cox@abdn.ac.uk 01224 27 3327
Mr Frederic Bayer frederic.bayer@abdn.ac.uk 01224 27 3714
Ms Niamh Stolvoort niamh.stolvoort@abdn.ac.uk 01224 27 3177
Ms Shirley Cooper (UoA) scooper@abdn.ac.uk  
Robert Gordon University
Mr Colin Jones c.jones@rgu.ac.uk 01224 26 2178
Mr Iain McLenan (RGU) i.mclenan@rgu.ac.uk 01224 26 3999
01224 26 3444
Ms Anne Campbell m.a.campbell@rgu.ac.uk 01224 26 3675
Mr Jim Florence    
Mr Stephen Williamson    

Annual General Meeting

In line with UNISON's rules for branches, we have an annual general meeting at the beginning of each year, where all members are invited to come along and hear what the branch has been doing, to elect the branch committee and stewards, and to put forward any motions.

We hope you'll come along - these meetings are very important for the running of the branch.  Invitations to the AGM are sent out in advance by email or post to all members.

Grampian Resource Centre

We're fortunate in Aberdeen to have access to the Grampian Resource Centre, which provides the branch with administrative and legal support through the UNISON employed full time officers. 

Aberdeen Trades Union Council

The branch is affiliated to the Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC), and is allowed to send nominated delegates to meetings of the ATUC.  The ATUC is a body for the coordination of all trade unions in the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area, and is the group responsible for organising the annual May Day march, International Workers Memorial Day and the St Andrew's Day march. The ATUC was founded in the 1860s at the behest of the local trade union groups and has an office in Aberdeen.

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What is a Trade Union?

Trade unions are groups of employees who join together to maintain and improve their conditions of employment.

The typical activities of a trade union include providing assistance and services to their members, collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions for all workers, working to improve the quality of public services, political campaigning and industrial action.

Unions train and organise workplace representatives who help union members with the problems they face at work. Reps provide support and advice and campaign for better conditions and pay.

Unions have brought significant changes to society, including:

  • a national minimum wage;
  • the abolition of child labour;
  • improved worker safety;
  • improving living standards by reducing the number of hours in the working week and encouraging a healthy work/life balance;
  • improved parental leave;
  • equality legislation;
  • better protection of migrant workers and a reduction in exploitation;
  • minimum holiday and sickness entitlements.

Unions have also made thousands of local agreements on issues affecting individual workplaces following consultation, negotiation and bargaining.