The Branch

Aberdeen 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 AberdeenMr Owen Coxo.m.cox@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 3327
Robert Gordon UniversityMr Colin Jonesc.jones@rgu.ac.uk01224 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.

PositionNameE-MailPhone
Branch ChairOwen Coxo.m.cox@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 3327
Branch Secretary (shared)William Tocherwilliam.tocher@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 2515
Niamh Stolvoortniamh.stolvoort@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 3177
Branch TreasurerColin Jonesc.jones@rgu.ac.uk01224 26 2178
Communications Officer (shared)Colin Jonesc.jones@rgu.ac.uk01224 26 2178
Frederic Bayerfrederic.bayer@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 3714
Health & Safety OfficersShirley Cooper (UoA)scooper@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 4023
Iain McLenan (RGU)i.mclenan@rgu.ac.uk01224 26 3999
01224 26 3444
Membership OfficerColin Jonesc.jones@rgu.ac.uk01224 26 2178
Welfare OfficerWilliam Tocherwilliam.tocher@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 2515
Labour Link OfficerMColin Jonesc.jones@rgu.ac.uk01224 26 2178
Environmental OfficerVacant  
Education Co-ordinatorVacant  
Lifelong Learning Co-ordinatorVacant  
Equality Co-ordinatorAbeer Eladanyabeer.eladany@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 4316
Black Members’ OfficerBenedict Nwokedib.nwokedi@rgu.ac.uk01224 26 2459
Disabled Members’ OfficerVacant  
LGBT+ Members’ OfficerVacant  
Women Members’ OfficerVacant  
Young Members’ OfficerNiamh Stolvoortniamh.unison@outlook.com01224 27 3177

Branch Stewards

University of Aberdeen
Owen Coxo.m.cox@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 3327
Frederic Bayerfrederic.bayer@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 3714
Niamh Stolvoortniamh.stolvoort@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 3177
Shirley Cooper (UoA)scooper@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 4023
William Tocherwilliam.tocher@abdn.ac.uk01224 27 2515
Steven Kearneysteven.kearney@abdn.ac.uk
Robert Gordon University
Colin Jonesc.jones@rgu.ac.uk01224 26 2178
Iain McLenan (RGU)i.mclenan@rgu.ac.uk01224 26 3999
01224 26 3444
Anne Campbellm.a.campbell@rgu.ac.uk01224 26 3675
Jim Florencej.r.florence@rgu.ac.uk 
Rebecca Taitr.tait@rgu.ac.uk  
Benedict Nwokedib.nwokedi@rgu.ac.uk01224 26 2459

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.