Workforce representation

We publish:

• Total number (absolute number and full time equivalent) of staff who are union representatives (including general, learning and health and safety representatives)
• Total number (absolute number and full time equivalent) of union representatives who devote at least 50 per cent of their time to union duties
• Names of all trade unions represented in the local authority
• A basic estimate of spending on unions (calculated as the number of full time equivalent days spent on union duties multiplied by the average salary)

A basic estimate of spending on unions as a percentage of the total pay bill (calculated as the number of full time equivalent days spent on union duties multiplied by the average salary divided by the total pay)

We support the principles of collective bargaining and recognise the role trade unions can play in:

• maintaining and developing good employee relations

• assisting communication between the Council and its workforce

• representing individual employees.

So they can do this, union representatives are granted reasonable paid time off.

Recognised unions

This information covers representation from 1 April 2019–31 March 2020.

Recognised teaching staff unions

• National Union of Teachers (NUT)*

• Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL)*

• National Association of School Masters and Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT)

• National Association of Headteachers (NAHT)

• Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)

• University and College Union (UCU)

• Community and Youth Workers’ Union (CYWU)

*The National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers merged on 1 September 2017 to form the National Education Union (NEU). Until 2019, they will continue to operate independently.

Recognised non-teaching staff unions

• Unison
• General, Municipal Boilermakers and Allied Trade Unions (GMB)
• Unite

Trade union facility time

We are legally required to report on union facility time, which is the time we grant to employees to work as union officials. These tables cover 1 April 2018 until 31 March 2019, and are split into central council staff union reps and education staff union reps.

Table 1a. Relevant union officials (central staff representatives)

The total number of our employees who were union officials.

Table 1b. Relevant union officials (education staff representatives)

The total number of our employees who were union officials.

For teaching unions, these figures are representative of a school working week and time off is based on term-time working only, where applicable.

Table 2a. Percentage of time spent on facility time (central)

The number of employees who were union officials that spent a) 0% b) 1–50% c) 51–99% and d) 100% of their working hours on facility time.

Table 2b. Percentage of time spent on facility time (education)

The number of employees who were union officials that spent a) 0% b) 1–50% c) 51–99% and d) 100% of their working hours on facility time.

Table 3a. Percentage of pay bill spent on facility time (central)

The percentage of our total pay bill spent on paying union officials for facility time.

Table 3b. Percentage of pay bill spent on facility time (education)

The percentage of our total pay bill spent on paying union officials for facility time.

Table 4a. Paid trade union activities (central)

The number of hours spent by union officials on paid trade union activities as a percentage of total paid facility time hours.

Table 4b. Paid trade union activities (education)

The number of hours spent by union officials on paid trade union activities as a percentage of total paid facility time hours.