Trade unions

Guidance on trade unions in the workplace can be found on businesslink.gov.uk (for employers) and Directgov (for workers):

• businesslink.gov.uk employee representatives and trade unions guidance
• Directgov trade unions guidance

BIS guidance 

• Code of practice: Access and unfair practices during recognition & derecognition ballots (PDF, 786KB)
• Code of Practice: Industrial action ballots and notice to employers (PDF, 186KB)
• Code of Practice: Picketing (PDF, 140KB)
• Industrial action and the law: A guide for employees, trade union members and others (PDF, 106 Kb) 
• Industrial action and the law - guidance (PDF, 128 Kb)  
• Industrial action and the law: Citizen's right to prevent disruption (PDF, 46 Kb)
• Payment of union subscriptions through the check off (PDF, 53 Kb)  
• Trade union executive elections: a guide for trade unions, their members and others (PDF, 113 Kb)  
• Trade union funds and accounting records - guidance (PDF, 47 Kb) 
• Trade union membership: rights of members and non-members (PDF, 166 Kb) 
• Trade union political funds: a guide for trade unions, their members and others (PDF, 108 Kb)  
• Unjustifiable discipline by a trade union - guidance (PDF, 48 Kb)
• The blacklisting of trade unionists - guidance (PDF, 53 Kb)

Facilities and facility time review

The 'Workplace Representatives: a review of their facilities and facility time' looked at the role of facilities and facility time in the workplace.

Facilities and facility time review

Trade union statistics

BIS is responsible, with the Office for National Statistics (ONS), for publishing the National Statistics on trade union membership.

Trade union statistics 

Consultation: The blacklisting of trade unionists

BIS ran a consultation which sought views on draft regulations to outlaw the blacklisting of trade unionists.  The consultation closed on the 18th August 2009. 

Government response to consultation and Final Impact Assessment on the blacklisting of trade unionists: revised draft regulations

Union Modernisation Fund (UMF)

The UMF provides financial assistance to independent trade unions and their federations. It supports innovative projects which speed unions' adaptation to a changing labour market and new ways of working.

Union Modernisation Fund 

Partnership at Work Fund

The Partnership at Work Fund was a government grant scheme established in 1999 to encourage the development of industrial relations by encouraging employers and employees to work together effectively.

Following the review of the scheme in 2004 as part of the Business Support review the Fund was - in its then current format - closed.

Historic information on the partnership at work fund (National Archives site) 

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