Time off for union training ‘legitimate'

Employers need to know that union rep requests for time off work for union training are legitimate and will be made with consideration for their business needs, says a new TUC guide.

Training for trade union workplace reps, which is aimed at employers, outlines their responsibilities and those of unions in relation to training of union representatives and gives practical advice about how the benefits can be shared. It also explains that, as the work of union representatives has expanded, covering issues as diverse as environmental and green strategies, redundancies and equality and diversity, training for union representatives has become more complex.

However, the TUC guide stresses that access to training in these areas will add value at the workplace and says “a common sense approach based on agreement is usually all that is required to resolve any complexity.”

Training for trade union workplace reps is available at www.unionlearn.org.uk/publications/index.cfm?frmPubID=191