Unite Health sector structure
Unite Health structure
Unite's Health sector structure is outlined below. 
Health Sector Branches – Most health members are in a health branch. This may be a branch specific to the employer, or it may be a collection of smaller employers in a similar area or it could be a national branch. Each branch is able to send delegates to the Regional Industrial Sector Committee (RISC)
Regional Industrial Sector Committee (RISC) - The RISC is the committee of health reps in the national or region. In the case of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the RISC in fact acts as a national committee on devolved matters. The committee in Wales is now known as the WISC, Welsh Industrial Sector committee. The committees discuss issues and make decision on health matters in their particular area. They also send delegates to the National Industrial Sector Committees and the Organising Professional Committees. RISCs are able to propose motions on health matters and to escalate these to the NISC for consideration as to whether the motion is adopted nationally.
Organising Professional Committees (OPC) – The OPC is a national committee for members belonging to the same professional group. 12 Exist in total. They are:
- Ambulance
- Applied Psychology
- Doctors
- Estates
- Health Care Scientists
- Mental Health Nurses
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Sexual Health Advisers
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Support Services
- Veterinary
They exist to provide a professional voice within Unite and to campaign and organise around issues affecting a specific professional group. At present each RISC may send one delegate with the exception of ambulance that can send two. We are currently reviewing the OPCs with a view to increasing participation. If you would like to get more involved please contact Richard Munn.
National Industrial Sector Committee (NISC) – The NISC is the UK wide national body that makes decisions for the health sector on matters like pay, terms and conditions and Unite’s health policy. The NISC is responsible for setting the direction of national campaigns and enacting the policies that Unite adopts. The NISC also votes on motions that have been approved at a RISC and passed to the NISC for consideration.
Executive Council – This is the national committee that governs Unite. It is made up of elected members from across the UK, the sectors Unite organises in and equality strands. There are three seats for health representatives and there are a number of other health workers who attend the EC from an equalities or geographical constituency. Some of the decisions made by the NISC would need to be passed to the EC for approval.
Associations – Unite has been formed over time as a result of a number of mergers of different unions. In most cases small professional unions decided to become part of one of Unite’s predecessor unions MSF, mainly in the 1990s. These associations act in a similar way to the OPCs though have kept alive some of the distinct traditions of the particular association. Not every professional group has an association however the eight that do operate are very important in regards of providing professional views, advice and support for members (including publications and conferences/seminars). More information on Unite Health Associations.