Advise TBC of any two roles of trade unions
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Guide
Work effectively with trade unions
The role of trade unions and their representatives
Although trade unions look after the interests of their members, they also recognise the advantages of working in partnership with employers. This is because a successful, profitable business is good for workers and therefore good for the union and its members.
An employer and a recognised trade union interact with the workplace in a number of ways, as set out below.
Trade unions: negotiating collective agreements
If you recognise a trade union in your workplace, you will probably have agreed with the union to bargain with it about the terms and conditions of employment of those workers who fall within a defined bargaining unit.
Sometimes, that bargaining unit will include all workers but it is common for the unit to include just certain categories of worker, eg production line operatives or technicians.
The objective of such collective bargaining is to conclude a collective agreement with the trade union. Where an independent trade union is recognised, the employer is obliged to disclose information to the trade union to facilitate the bargaining process.
Read Labour Relations Agency guidance on disclosure of information to trade unions for collective bargaining purposes.
A collective agreement is between a recognised trade union (or group of unions) and an employer (or groups of employers). Most typically, they set out the terms and conditions - eg pay, benefits and working time - to be included in the employment contracts of the workers in the bargaining unit. Other collective agreements are purely procedural and regulate the working relationship between the union(s) and the employer(s).
A collective agreement isn't legally enforceable unless it:
is in writing
states that it's meant to be legally enforceable
In the UK, most collective agreements are not legally enforceable.
For more information on collective bargaining and collective agreements, see recognising and derecognising a trade union.
Trade unions: Informing and consulting
Under certain circumstances, you must inform - and consult with - representatives of a recognised trade
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