n By Keith Hatch
Clive Dixon roving rep – providing vital support What is an accredited support companion?
An accredited support companion (ASC) is an experienced union rep who supports Unite members in workplaces where we do not have recognition and elected representatives.
Typically they will be reps able to operate at a higher level and crucially need to have the availability and flexibility to be able to take on representations, often at short notice.
Laura Bichard is the Membership Services Administrator with Unite Guernsey and works with ASCs as well as being a companion herself. Laura explained that, “This is a role whereby an officer will identify an experienced rep and recommend them as an ASC with the endorsement of the regional coordinating officers (RCO), they are required to attend the education training course and assessment.”
Once reps successfully pass the assessment they become one of
the team of Accredited Support Companions in the Region. They can then be asked to represent members in workplaces where we do not have workplace representatives or when no reasonable alternative is available.
The officer will make a request to the RCO, the members case details are then assigned to the ASC. On completion of representation, they must fill in and return the Unite ASC report and expenses.
Laura said, “Personally I think this is a great stepping stone for activists that want to be more involved and it is an opportunity to grow experience should they wish to progress within Unite. I’m a companion and through this I have gained a lot of very useful experience of how to support our members across a range of employers, industries and sectors.” Some Unite regional education teams run courses specifically aimed at building up the skills necessary
25 uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2024
to support members in other workplaces. This course can cover a number topics including:
� Understanding the rights of a companion
� Support companion protocols � Reporting and record keeping � Training
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I’m a companion and through this I have gained a lot of very useful experience of how to support our members across a range of employers, industries and sectors
Laura Bichard,
Unite accredited support companion, Guernsey
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