Psychotherapy and Counselling Union: Freelance Professional WordPress Developer

Job Description and Person Specification

GENERAL

Hours:	Minimum of 10 hours a week. Possibility of ongoing involvement in maintaining the website.
Rate:	£20 per hour
Location:	UK Remote

Application deadline: Monday 20^th November                     

Interview date: Thursday 7^th December

Email admin@pcunion.org.uk with your enquiry or to apply. Please send your CV with covering letter.

Job Overview

The Website and IT Officer will be responsible for designing and developing (or coordinating the design and development of) the Union’s new website, using the WordPress platform. They will also be responsible for minimal maintenance of the existing website (hosted on the Wix platform) until the new website is launched. Depending on their skills, they may also provide some assistance with broader issues of IT strategy and implementation.

Job Description

• Liaise with former Treasurer Mike Shallcross (mike@talkthrough.net) to understand the background and history of the PCU website and the status of the current website development strategy.

• With involvement from Mike as needed, develop the current strategy for a new PCU website (at https://pcunion.org.uk/) based on the WordPress platform, using the Divi theme or similar page-builder software, and MemberPress (along with other plugins) to provide subscription management and other functions such as discussion forums and event listings.

• Agree a visual design for the core of the new website, to support the key static content on the current website (at https://www.psychotherapyandcounsellingunion.co.uk/). Develop the core new website in line with the agreed design.

• While the new website is still under development, carry out minimum maintenance to the old (Wix) website to update content that is clearly incorrect or irrelevant.

• Once the new website has achieved a basic level of static usability, liaise with the Executive Committee and the social media Officer to draw up and put into practice a process for moving from the old to the new website with minimum disruption.

• Liaise with the social media Officer to update the new website with relevant PCU news, campaigns etc. on an ongoing basis.

• Draw up a detailed plan for adding subscription management and other functions to the new website, in manageable stages that will cause minimum disruption. Manage the implementation of this plan.

• Subject to skills and available time, advise the Executive Committee on matters of IT strategy and implementation where relevant.

Person Specification

1. Skills and Experience

Essential

• Demonstrated success in designing, developing and maintaining WordPress websites using page-builder software such as the Divi theme

• Some experience of membership management systems within WordPress, preferably the MemberPress plugin

• Some experience of managing a move to a new website

• Excellent general IT skills

Desirable

• Familiarity with the use of payment systems in WordPress for subscription management

• Some knowledge of the Wix platform

• Experience of doing work for trade union, third sector and/or campaigning organisations

2. Qualities

• Understanding of and sympathy for the aims and values of the trade union movement

• Excellent organisational and time management skills

• Ability to work independently and prioritise and manage workload without close supervision

• Excellent interpersonal skills

3. Links

• Meet regularly with a designated member/s of the Executive Committee

• Occasional attendance at Executive Committee meetings

• Regular communication with social media Officer

• Regular communication with PCU Administrator

• Communication with branch secretaries

The General Federation of Trade Unions stands in solidarity with working people in Palestine and Israel and calls for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the siege of Gaza. We condemn the killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas and the killing of Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces and extend our sympathies to all those who have lost family and friends. In particular, the impact of this conflict on children and young people has been devastating and will take a long time to heal.

The current escalation in violence takes place in the context of the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory by Israel and a systematic oppression of the Palestinian people, described by international human rights organisations as a system of “apartheid”. Since 1967, Palestinians have lived under brutal occupation and their legitimate demand for an independent state has been denied.

The current assault on Gaza has included the bombing of hospitals, the targeting and destruction of 88 schools and the denial of food, medicine and fuel to the people of Gaza. Collective punishment is a war crime under international law and our government must demand the immediate cessation of all military action and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow vital material aid into Gaza.

We call on all those committed to peace to join the marches and demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine and to pressure our government to act.

GFTU is deeply concerned by the rise in antisemitism and anti-Muslim racism which has accompanied the escalation of the conflict. The trade union movement must work to build unity between working people and oppose those who would divide us. We stand in solidarity with all those who have been subjected to racism and discrimination and against those, particularly in politics and the media, who have encouraged division.

GFTU expresses solidarity with all who fight for justice, equality and peace in Palestine and Israel.

We stand in solidarity with Palestinian trade unions in their call for the trade union movement worldwide to refuse to build or transport weapons to Israel, to take action against companies complicit in the siege of Gaza and to pressure their governments to cease military trade with Israel.

Ultimately, there will be no solution to the crisis until there is an end to the military occupation of Palestinian territory and the blockade of Gaza, and a respect for Palestinian rights, including the right to self-determination and the right to return.

We echo the voice of the democratic forces in Israel and Palestine when they say that there is no military solution to this crisis, only a political one – the end of the occupation and Palestinian independence.

****EMBARGOED FOR 00.01 4 September 2023****

General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) and Strike Map announce historic partnership.

General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) is today announcing a historic partnership with Strike Map, after successfully mapping over 230,000 workplaces taking strike action, since December 2020. As workers continue to vote for strike action in response to pay cuts during a growing cost of living crisis, we face the possibility of continued strike action into 2024.

The partnership, due to take effect from 11 October, will mean a new permanent home and mutual collaboration for both GFTU and Strike Map. In celebrating this announcement, Gawain Little, general secretary of the GFTU commented, “The trade union movement faces real challenges but also has huge potential to grow. Strike Map, as one of the most innovative new projects within the movement, provides both answers to those challenges and ways to capture that potential. Our partnership will be about providing critical education for a new layer of trade union leaders, to grow and strengthen the movement for the good of all workers.”

As well as mapping strikes, Strike Map has signed up over 4,000 people to visit a picket, raised thousands of pounds for striking workers and has launched its Strike Clubs, a group of localised networks of over 900 people all coordinating visits to picket lines and solidarity with strikers locally. 

Emma Runswick, deputy chair of the council of the British Medical Association welcomes this move, “We have really appreciated the incredible support of Strike Map during our current pay disputes with the Government. They provide an incredible platform, network and place for building support for all strikes, that is why we support Strike Map and this exciting new partnership.”

An essential part of this partnership will be combining the impressive trade union educational offering of the GFTU with the growing Strike Map reps’ network and local strike clubs. Providing support, educational opportunities and a place to develop the reps, stewards and activists of today and tomorrow.

Sarah Woolley, general secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), commented, “Strike Map continues to innovate and help support this important moment of renewed struggle and fightback from workers everywhere. BFAWU urges all unions to support Strike Map as we have done and cannot wait to see what this partnership with GFTU will deliver.” 

The last few years have seen Strike Map mentioned by a variety of news and media sources, including the Financial Times, Daily Mirror, The New Yorker magazine, Morning Star, Tribune and Novara Media. 
Henry Fowler, a co-founder of Strike Map, said, “From a homemade WordPress website and a google form, we have built a website that is used by millions. The support from branches, regions and national unions has been incredible. We will always remember those that supported us from the beginning. As struggle has grown, so has our map. This partnership with the GFTU is a vital next step, providing an exciting future and opportunities we only dreamed of back in 2020. Like our supporters and affiliates, our incredible volunteers continue to keep our map going, supporting workers in struggle. As we head to 2024 Strike Map will continue building solidarity campaigns that assist workers taking action. Same map, new home.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors: For media enquiries, please email Georgia Wilkinson via georgiaw@gftu.org.uk.
Spokespeople are available for broadcast interviews.

About General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU)

The General Federation of Trade Unions was established in 1899 and is a friendly democratic organisation responsive to the needs of affiliated trade unions. Like unions, we aim to improve the lives of working people and their communities. Working collaboratively, there is no question or issue too large or small that an affiliate cannot refer to us. We seek to add value to specialist trade unions and sections of unions at various levels. With affiliation fees of around £1 per member, per annum, we believe we offer exceptional value. There is a range of support we provide; from developing professional support for General Secretaries and other professional groups such as Finance and Education officers, to offering an exceptional programme of online and face to face trade union activist courses and management training, to youth and arts festivals, to detailed specialist research and highly customised support for individual unions, we have a flexible and expert approach.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GFTU1 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GFTU1899

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gftu_1/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/general-federation-of-trade-unions/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr3sXrE5cJ4aX6JbkhelsoA 

 

About Strike Map

Strike Map is a group of trade union activists who have mapped over 230,000 workplaces taking action since 2020. Our map is ‘worker-powered’ and relies on trade unionists uploading their action. Strike map aims to document and present the levels of strike action in the country, enable others to see the levels of action and pass on messages of solidarity and encourage other workers in their struggles.
Strike Map is part funded by the Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust.

For more information please go to: https://strikemap.org 

Twitter: @strike_map

Facebook: @strikemap

Instagram: @strike_map

Threads: @strike_map

LinkedIn: @strike-map

YouTube: @strike_map