The voice of 4000 Public Service Workers in Brighton & Hove

Brighton & Hove UNISION is a large and dynamic branch, with a 25 year history in representing public sector workers in the city, as well as leading on activism and organising around the issues that affect them.  We represent thousands of workers in local government, and hundreds delivering public services in the community, voluntary and private sector.

group of people standing holding up signs with positive messages about UNISON

About Us

We are a friendly and inclusive branch made up of 8 elected Officers, employed case workers and nearly 100 Reps and Stewards.  Three-quarters of our membership are women and we also represent many low paid and front-line workers.

woman smiling, holding up a plackard that says good pay & conditions

Welcome to the branch!

The Branch was born in 1997 when services that had been delivered by East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove Borough Councils were brought in to one unitary authority. We are proud of our legacy so far and have deservedly built a reputation for being collaborative and constructive; whilst having zero tolerance for inequality or any attacks on, or reductions in, pay and conditions.  Some of the Branch’s successes include a Teaching Assistant’s Strike which led to improved pay for hundreds of workers, and our extensive work on Equal Pay through Single Status, which led to backdated cumulative pay increases in the millions of pounds.

women holding up signs that say vote

Get Involved

As a branch one of our key priorities, alongside supporting members on workplace issues, is to campaign and lobby for positive change.

poeple standing smiling with laniards at a conference

Events and Learning

UNISON Conferences form the backbone of the union’s democratic structure, and provide the main mechanism for members, Reps and Branch Officers to affect and design union policies and procedures.

One of the biggest benefits of trade union membership and activism is that it can link you with a fantastic range of learning and training opportunities.

“I’ve been through a really difficult and stressful situation in my work for the best part of this year and I’m happy to say, with my Reps immense support, it has now been resolved.  I really don’t know what I would have done without my Reps skills and knowledge and her voice of calm reassurance which really kept me going throughout. There were times I felt like giving up but her wise words and confidence kept me going.”

— Vol & Comm Sector member

Join UNISON

Brighton & Hove Unison helps around 500 members a year with everything from informal advice to legal representation. Unionised workplaces are safer, happier, fairer and more productive. Unionised workers earn more than non-unionised workers, and young unionised workers earn up to a third more than their non-unionised counterparts.