Managing Trade Union Relations

Workshop details

Objectives: to provide an overview of employee relations involving trade unions.

Duration: Single day workshop

Programmes are agreed on a client by client basis.

Details of the subjects covered in this programme:

• Contracts of Employment:
  • Express and implied terms and the effect of statute
  • Collective agreements and incorporation into contracts
  • The importance and application of variation clauses
  • Changing contractual terms – the procedure

• Trade Unions & Employee Representatives:
  • An individual’s right to be a member of a trade union
  • Independent trade unions and their legal standing
  • Recognition of trade unions and recognition agreements
  • De-recognition of trade unions
  • Bargaining rights and collective agreements
  • Rights of trade union members and employee representatives, including rights to time off work, protection from detriment, automatically unfair dismissal
  • Electing employee representatives
  • Employee representatives and disciplinary/capability action

• Collective Bargaining:
  • The bargaining unit – who is covered by negotiations
  • The scope of collective bargaining
  • The link with individual employment contracts
  • Access rights to information for collective bargaining
• Negotiation v Consultation
  • Distinguishing consultation from negotiation
  • Essential features of consultation v negotiation
  • Employers’ legal obligation to consult – the scope including redundancies and TUPE
• Negotiating:
  • Who to involve in negotiations – ‘fielding’ your team
  • Planning – identifying key objectives and ‘no go’ areas
  • Negotiating strategies, tactics and conducting discussions
  • Structuring meetings
  • The danger of ‘give aways’ in order to secure a deal
  • The concept of ‘win/win’ in negotiations
• Disputes
  • Addressing and resolving disputes – the process
  • Defining and handling a ‘failure to agree’
  • Right to take individual action and legal protection for lawful action
  • Industrial action – who can participate and forms of action
  • The options available to an employer facing industrial action

At appropriate stages during the workshop, there will be structured discussion to address the key points.

If you would like someone to contact you in connection with the above, please get in touch with nicki.collins@twmsolicitors.com.