• Trade Union recognition and collective bargaining;
• Industrial action;
• Statutory redundancy pay;
• Guarantee payments;
• Providing information and advice on trade unions and their policies.

REVIEW OF WORKPLACE REPRESENTATIVES FACILITIES AND FACILITY TIME

In Success at Work (see related links) the Government stated that it would carry out a review of workplace representatives to examine ways in which that their role should be adapted to the modern workplace and their contribution to the workplace maximised.

The review was launched on 29 June 2006 with the following terms of reference.

Terms of Reference

The Government recognises the valuable role played by workplace representatives.  This review will assess whether representatives have sufficient access to facilities and facility time to enable them to carry out their functions efficiently and effectively, bearing in mind the needs and resources of modern workplaces.  It will also assess whether there is a need to clarify or simplify the relevant statutory rights governing facilities and facility time, and whether there is adequate practical guidance provided to help parties apply those entitlements at the workplace.

The review was carried out by the DTI, in cooperation with DfES, DWP, the Health and Safety Commission, the Health and Safety Executive and other Government Departments, through full consultation with interested stakeholders.

Timetable

A formal three-month consultation will start on 04 January 2007 and end on 29 March 2007. The review will be concluded in the summer of 2007 and we will implement any recommendations before the end of this Parliament.  

Workplace representatives: a review of their facilities and facility time - January 2007   (405Kb)

The Union Modernisation Fund

The purpose of the Union Modernisation Fund is to provide financial assistance to independent trade unions and their federations in support of innovative projects which speed unions' adaptation to a changing labour market and new ways of working. Click above for further information.

A copy of the Collective Redundancies (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (SI 2387/2006) can be obtained from the Office of Public Sector Information website (OPSI). (See External Links)