Policy 2.4.10 Trade Union Activities*

2.4.10 Trade Union Activities*

If you are a trade union official LUU recognises your right in law to reasonable time off with pay during working hours to attend to trade union duties. The timing of such time off is dependent on the permission of the Chief Executive. Permission will be subject to the needs of your department but it will not be refused unreasonably. Please try to give your line manager as much notice as possible

Reasonable paid time off during working hours will be granted by LUU to enable officials to:

· Attend meetings on individual grievance, performance or disciplinary matters where the official is assisting a member of the trade union.

· Meet with full time officials of the trade union in connection with specific issues affecting trade union members.

· Attend courses organised by the TUC or the trade union subject to operational requirements and the appropriateness of the training course.

· Participate in such other duties as may be agreed by LUU and the trade union.

· Participate in health and safety duties.

Branch meetings will usually be held outside normal working hours. We recognise that not all staff work during normal working hours. If a branch meeting is held when a particular official should be working it is to be expected that the official will be granted time off with pay in order to attend.

Whilst there is no statutory requirement for trade union members and officials to be paid for time off during working hours for activities relating to their trade unions, LUU accepts that it is reasonable on certain occasions to grant facilities for meeting during working hours for considering important issues. It is recognised that trade union activities such as branch administration, correspondence, maintaining membership records, discussions with members about matters of general interest etc. are conducted in the members and officials own time.