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Trade Unions and employee relations

Information and guidance about Trade Unions, contact information and resources.

Trade Unions and employee relations

As a council we recognise that it is to the mutual benefit of the council and its employees for them to be represented by Trade Unions.

We are committed to the principle of collective bargaining at both national and local level. We recognise the important role of Trade Unions in promoting and developing good employee relations, prioritising and supporting the wellbeing of employees, and health and safety practices.

Trade Union Recognition and Facilities Agreement (DOC 2MB)

Links to Trade Union websites:

Industrial action

Industrial action is when workers:

  • go on strike
  • take other action, like refusing to do overtime (known as ‘action short of a strike’)

Calling industrial action

Industrial action happens when trade union members are in a dispute with their employers that can’t be solved through negotiations.

A trade union calls industrial action by telling members and the employer when and how this action will be taken. This should be done by a trade union official or committee that has the legal right to do so. Your voting paper must have said who this is.

A list of resource and guidance: