Rights to trade union membership

Rights of union officials

A trade union official may be a paid full-time official of the union or an employee who has been appointed by the union to represent its members in the workplace.

Duties may include:

• recruiting, organising and representing members of a trade union, either individually or collectively
• attending meetings with members of the workforce and management
• negotiating with the employer on terms and conditions of employment or matters of discipline

Rights to time off

Employers must give officials of a recognised union reasonable paid time off:

• to carry out their union duties, eg meeting with the employer to discuss terms and conditions or accompanying employees to disciplinary and grievance hearings
• for training related to union duties
• for union learning representatives (ULRs) to carry out their functions and undertake training

Employers must give union officials and members reasonable unpaid time off for carrying out other union activities, not directly related to the workplace, and using the services of a ULR

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Rights of trade union members and non-members
• Rights of union officials
• Rights of union learning representatives
• Rights of various employee representatives

 

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