Introduction

UNISON is the UK's biggest trade union. It was formed in 1993 when three unions merged. Its members work in areas such as education, healthcare and transport. It has nearly 1.3 million members working in public services.

Unions

A trade union is an organisation that acts for groups of workers. It fights for better pay and working conditions. It has a lot more power in talks between workers and employers because it acts for a group of people.

• Talks to come to an agreement are called negotiations.

• Dealing on behalf of members is called collective bargaining.

Unions may be called in to help in any dispute between a worker and an employer.

Rights of workers

Unions protect workers' rights. Workers have legal rights such as:

• Minimum Wage

• set rest periods

• set number of hours to work

• protection from unfair treatment due to race or gender (discrimination).

As well as these legal or statutory rights, workers have rights laid down in their Contract of Employment.

Contracts

A Contract of Employment gives the working arrangements between a worker and an employer. By law, a worker must have certain Contract terms in writing within two months of starting work. These cover areas such as

• the job title

• the tasks the worker has to carry out

• pay, hours and overtime

• holiday, sick pay and pension rights.

It also covers problems between worker and employer. What workers have to do if they have a problem with the employer is covered by the grievance procedure. (A grievance is a complaint.) What employers have to do if they have a problem with the worker is covered by the disciplinary procedure.

Disputes

If there is a dispute between an employer and a group of workers, UNISON will try to solve it through negotiation. It will sit down and talk with the employer, putting its members' point of view. If this does not work members can be asked, through a vote, if they want to take further action. That action could be:

• a work to rule - where workers carry out only the exact tasks that they should

• an overtime ban

• strike action either of all the members or of certain groups.

Conclusion

UNISON and all trades unions would prefer for disputes never to get this far. It believes that good industrial relations can be built by workers and employers being partners.