Working with trade unions: employers

Rights of employees in trade unions

You must recognise certain rights of union members, whether or not you recognise a union in your workplace.

Union members have a right to reasonable unpaid time off during working hours for trade union activities, such as attending a union meeting.

You can choose to give union members paid time off but do not have to.

You cannot discriminate against anyone because they’re in a union or because of their union activity.

This means you cannot dismiss, penalise, or refuse to employ someone solely because of their union membership.

A union normally names one or more of your workers as its local workplace representatives (‘reps’).

If you recognise a union in your workplace, reps who are employees have additional rights. They include leaning and equality reps.

Reps have the right to request time off work to carry out their role.

All requests should be reasonable. You must allow time off unless you can show that the request is not reasonable.

Reps have the right to request access to accommodation and facilities to carry out their role and training.

All requests should be reasonable. You must allow access to accommodation and facilities if the request is reasonable.

Reasonable time off does not have to be taken as annual leave.