Trade Unions

This handbook is concerned with two quite different relationships: that between trade unions and their members and that between trade unions and employers. Both relationships are now governed primarily by statute although common law still plays an important part, particularly with respect to the role of trade union rule books and to collective agreements. It takes account of the changes brought about by the Employment Relations Act 1999 and in particular, the new right to statutory recognition now contained in Schedule A1 to the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULR(C) Act). .

The IDS employment law handbook on trade unions covers:

• the definition and status of trade unions and looks at the question of trade union independence as well as amalgamation or dissolution

• trade union political funds

• the relationship between a union and its individual members and also such matters as the role of the union rule book, the use of union funds and the right of a union to discipline and exclude members

• trade union elections

• the new statutory right to trade union recognition under Schedule A1 to the TULR(C) Act including the right of individuals to join a trade union of their choice and the rights of union members not to be unjustifiably disciplined or be discriminated against by their union.also sets out the provisions contained in Part VIII of the Schedule protecting workers against suffering a detriment or being dismissed for reasons relating to recognition (or derecognition)

• the rights of recognised trade unions, such as time off for trade union duties and activities and thedisclosure of information for collective bargaining purposes, as well as voluntary recognition agreements reached outside the scope of the new statutory scheme

• the law governing collective agreements

• the rights of individual trade union members (and non-members) including the law governing unfair recruitment, the right not to suffer a detriment on trade union grounds and dismissals for trade union reasons.