Supporting Union Reps in the Workplace

By TUC

A TUC survey of union reps shows that it's the attitude of employers that has the biggest impact on the ability of union reps to do their jobs.

Although most bosses are either supportive or neutral towards workplace reps, 15 per cent said their employers were either very or quite hostile.

Over a thousand union reps responded to the TUC online survey earlier this year, and the results are due to be discussed at a Congress House seminar held later today to launch the TUC's new bargaining to organise campaign.

Reps spoke of being picked on and bullied, set impossible deadlines, with life generally made difficult, simply because they had decided to volunteer as the workplace rep.

Some described how the attitude towards the union varied enormously depending upon which level of management in the company they were dealing with. Often local managers who were keen to work closely with the union found themselves over-ruled by bosses higher up the chain. And there were instances where senior managers' good relationship with the union was constantly undermined by supervisors at a local level.

Reps questioned complained that managers made them feel like they were letting their workmates down by spending time away from their jobs on union duties, and others said all number of excuses were made to stop a rep being released for union work. Being refused time off to attend union training courses was another common grievance.

The average time spent on union activities by reps was between one and five hours a week (four in ten reps reported this), but nearly 15 per cent of those replying were involved in union business for more than 21 hours a week.

Almost six out of ten reps (58.2 per cent) were paid by their employers for the time they spent on union tasks, but 16 per cent said that more than three quarters of their union work was carried out in their own time.

Not surprisingly workplace reps are using email and the internet more and more to do their work, but where relations were not good with employers, reps were reluctant to go online. They complained that their employers wanted to see all emails before they were sent around to members, that they were denied web access at work and that bosses had been caught accessing the union's email account.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Most employers are sensible enough to realise the business benefits that come from a good working relationship with a union. But those that fear unions seem to be trying to do all they can to prevent reps from doing their work. Stopping reps from going on training courses and not giving them time of for union work are common complaints.

'That's why the proposed Government review of time off, support and facilities for union reps is so important, and why the TUC has pushed for this review to be carried out as soon as possible.

'Our new bargaining to organise campaign aims to help unions provide their reps with even greater levels of support and encourage them to recruit lots of new members in workplaces that already have union recognition. '