• Introduction
• Agreement with UNISON
• Agreement with Unite
• Agreement with Loughborough University UCU (University College Union)
• Time Off for Training related to Trade Union Duties

The University is committed to maintaining good relations with unions operating within it. The University recognises that in order to do this, certain members of the University will be required to undertake trade union duties during the working week.

The following guidelines provide information on the arrangements for certain staff to take time off from their main post within the University to carry out trade union duties.

There are three unions recognised by the University. They each have different agreements relating to time off because the membership levels and nature of issues vary between the unions.

The unions recognised by the University are as follows:

UNISON: 

Secretarial and Clerical Staff; Ancillary Staff and Manual Staff.

UNITE:

Technical Staff.

University and College Union (UCU)

Academic staff (including Research Staff and Academic Related Staff.

Union representatives are required to attend meetings and conferences relating to employment issues, e.g. negotiating sub-committees. In addition, they are required to represent and support employees as and when they are needed (e.g. during a disciplinary investigation).Time off to attend the various negotiating sub-committees is excluded from the allowances set out below.

This agreement covers all Secretarial, Clerical, Ancillary and Manual staff.

A total of ten members of UNISON can be accredited union representatives at any one time. Human Resources should be made aware of who the union representatives are, and should be kept informed of any changes.

UNISON has responsibility for identifying union representatives are. UNISON also has a responsibility to ensure that the operational efficiency of any University department or section is not seriously affected as a result of the choices made. This means that the representatives should be spread fairly across the University Departments.

The total time off from normal duties permitted for recognised UNISON representatives is 35 hours per week. This means that the 35 hours must be shared between the 10 representatives. Time off for union duties must be agreed in advance with the representative’s Head of Department (or nominee).

The Branch Secretary is entitled to use 18.5 hours per week of this 35 hours entitlement to carry out their union duties (pro rata if they work part time.) However, any hours that they do not use (e.g. if they are off sick) can be transferred to another representative, (again with prior agreement of the representative’s Head of Department).

Whilst every effort will be made to allow the Branch Secretary to take the full allowance of hours each week, it is recognised that Departmental work requirements may occasionally preclude this. Where this occurs the Branch Secretary may carry forward a maximum of 12 hours to a subsequent week.

The University recognises that UNISON may wish to hold meetings with its representatives each month. Representatives are only able to attend these meetings with the prior consent of their Head of Department. The time off for these meetings shall be included in the overall allowance of 35 hours.

Union business or branch meetings should be conducted outside working hours. The University will provide accommodation for these meetings, subject to the availability of the meeting rooms.

This agreement covers all Technical staff.

A total of four Unite members can be accredited as union representatives at any one time. Personnel should be made aware of who the union representatives are and kept aware of any changes.

Reasonable time off will be granted by the University to enable the representatives to discharge their union duties.

Meetings arranged for the purpose of conducting union business should normally be arranged outside working hours. The University will provide accommodation for such meetings subject to availability.

Reasonable time off with pay will be allowed for accredited union safety representatives to undertake their safety duties within the University.

 

This agreement covers all Academic and Academic Related staff, including Research staff.

The University will grant time off with pay equivalent to a maximum of 50% of a full time post to cover union duties.

The time off allowance shall be divided between the officers of the UCU at its discretion, provided no one officer shall normally be able to take more than one half of the total allowance (i.e. up to 25% of a full time post).

Human Resources should be made aware of all elected members, and receive confirmation of which members will be using the time off allowance. Any changes should also be notified. Personnel will inform the relevant Heads of Departments. Academic staff who are given time off should not be required to reduce time for personal research to accommodate for the time off.

If in exceptional circumstances, a Head of Department believes that the tasks given up by the officer cannot be taken on by other members of the department without causing undue detriment a request for additional temporary resources can be made to the University.

 

Both Unite and UNISON have agreements with the University regarding time off for trade union training.

Time off with pay will normally be granted to accredited union representatives to attend training courses related to their union duties as agreed by the union and the University. The University will not be responsible for any expenses incurred as a result of union training.

Union representatives may be required to attend conferences or meetings arranged by their union or the TUC. Time off with pay will normally be granted to accredited union representatives to attend such conferences/meetings. Attendance at any such conference will be subject to the prior agreement of the representative’s Head of Department (or nominee), The University will not be responsible for any expenses incurred.

A maximum of 17 days off with pay shall be granted in any calendar year to be shared between all 10 UNISON representatives.

A maximum of five days with pay shall be granted in any calendar year to be shared between all four Unite representatives.

Reasonable time off with pay will be granted to accredited union safety representatives to attend such courses of training in health and safety matters as may be agreed from time to time between the University and the union. The University will be responsible for approved expenses incurred by the union safety representative in connection with their attendance at such courses.