Welcome to our Representatives
As one of our representatives you form the beating heart of Advance Union
Reps are the backbone of the trade union movement because they link workers, employers and unions.
Your role as a rep has a crucial role in supporting their members, and your responsibilities include:
- Listening, supporting and advising members on workplace issues.
- Recruiting members and helping them understand the full benefits of the union.
- Raising issues with employers informally and in formal meetings where appropriate.
- Acting as a link between the workplace, the union and the employer.
Union reps are entitled to reasonable paid time off to perform their union duties.
What do area representatives do?
What Our Area Representatives Do
Area Representatives are the backbone of Advance Union. They provide vital support at workplace level, acting as the essential link between members, senior representatives, the employer, and the wider union. Without local representation, members would have no one to raise concerns, organise around workplace issues, or ensure their voices are heard.
Our Area Reps play a crucial role, including:
- Recruiting and organising members — helping colleagues understand the value of being part of a strong union and encouraging collective action around workplace issues.
- Listening, advising, and informing — talking to members about concerns, offering guidance, and keeping everyone updated on developments that affect them.
- Raising issues within the union — ensuring local concerns are taken to area meetings and escalated through the union structure where needed.
- Working directly with management — many reps regularly engage with local managers to resolve issues quickly and constructively, supported by our agreed framework of formal meetings with Santander senior management across business areas.
- Signposting specialist support — guiding members with complex queries or those needing representation to the Advance Union office.
- Maintaining confidentiality — reps handle all matters sensitively and will never share a member’s name or details without consent.
- Supporting negotiations — while not all reps negotiate directly on major issues, every rep contributes to creating an informed, organised, and engaged membership.
Area Reps ensure that every member has someone in their corner — someone who understands their workplace, listens to their concerns, and makes sure their voice is heard.