FAQs

What is RMS and what does "cleansing our data" mean?

RMS is UNISON's membership database.  With 1.4 million members, as you can imagine it is a pretty huge database and sometimes if the information doesn't come through it can get out of date. 

It is absolutely essential to us that we have "clean" - ie accurate - data about all our members.  This means we need to correlate it with the information the employers our members work for have about our members, and ask our members to keep us updated directly as well. Have you moved house recently?  Have you changed your role (even if you've keep the same employer)?  Make sure your data is up to date or we can't get in touch!

It is particularly crucial that our data is "clean" if we need to go to ballot for industrial action.

If you want to make sure your membership information is up to date, you can update your details on-line or by calling UNISON Direct on 0845 355 0845.

Will we definitely be balloting for industrial action?

We don't know yet if we will ballot for action because the negotiations are still ongoing!

Of course our negotiators always do their very best to protect the rights and terms and conditions of our members through negotiation - backed up by all the pressure our members apply through campaigning in the media, lobbying MPs, employers and councils, and getting the word out that fair pensions for everyone is the way forward, not a race to the bottom. 

Ultimately, however, when there are proposals for changes - however much better we can improve them against what is on the table now - we will need to ask all of you to vote on what you think and want to do next. That is why it is absolutely imperative we have up to date details!

Got thoughts to share or concerns to raise? Email us at pensionssw@unison.co.uk now!