Offer by employer to union members only

grnglide

My employer is in the process of negotiations with my trade union which will result in an optional change of contract of employment for trade union members only in the area in which I am employment. The intention seems to be that this offer will not be made to non members of the union. This change is to to with collective bargaining (which we dont have at the moment) and other issues.

I thought that this sort of thing had been made illegal by the laws that made closed shops etc illegal.

While it doesnt affect me directly (I am in the union and do have a choice) any employees who are not in the union are not being treated the same.

Can anyone give an informed opinion as to whether this is legal?

Horace

I think that perhaps you have misunderstood slightly - unions often negotiate with employers for collective bargaining e.g. negotiating pay rises etc and these would then cover union members and non-union members alike. It also goes for changes of contract - the unions negotiate with the employer for their members but any changes also apply to the contracts of non-union members.

I used to be a branch secretary of a union and would negotiate pay increases for the staff - this included members and non-members alike, it is advantageous if all members of staff are in a union because it is easier for members to get representation at grievance or disciplinary hearings as well has having good working conditions, however, there are people who choose not to join a union and therefore they wouldnt get the representation for grievances and displinaries, however, they will get the pay benefits etc that have been negotiated by the union.

dmg24

Horace wrote: »

I think that perhaps you have misunderstood slightly - unions often negotiate with employers for collective bargaining e.g. negotiating pay rises etc and these would then cover union members and non-union members alike. It also goes for changes of contract - the unions negotiate with the employer for their members but any changes also apply to the contracts of non-union members.

I used to be a branch secretary of a union and would negotiate pay increases for the staff - this included members and non-members alike, it is advantageous if all members of staff are in a union because it is easier for members to get representation at grievance or disciplinary hearings as well has having good working conditions, however, there are people who choose not to join a union and therefore they wouldnt get the representation for grievances and displinaries, however, they will get the pay benefits etc that have been negotiated by the union.

This is not necessarily the case. The 'bargaining unit' may be the whole workforce, but may only be the union members. This would be agreed between the union and the employer at the beginning of their arrangement.

grnglide

dmg24 wrote: »

This is not necessarily the case. The 'bargaining unit' may be the whole workforce, but may only be the union members. This would be agreed between the union and the employer at the beginning of their arrangement.

There already is a bargaining unit for staff who have been TUPEd in - this is a negotiation the set up another bargaining unit who are not in the existing one but is only including existing union members and not those who are not.

I can understand the union not being especially interested in the staff who arent members, the employer is vehementally anti union and this is a never to be repeated offer to grant collective bargaining under great pressure.

Just wondering whether they should be allowing all employees, not just current union members, to join.

DVardysShadow

grnglide wrote: »

Just wondering whether they should be allowing all employees, not just current union members, to join.

Join the union and get the benefit. Not what the employer intends, but he should think it through more carefully. But perhaps he intends to break the union by offering even more to the non members.

grnglide

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Join the union and get the benefit. Not what the employer intends, but he should think it through more carefully. But perhaps he intends to break the union by offering even more to the non members.

I am already a union member and have to decide by Monday whether to joing the bargaining unit despite the fact that I have not seen the amended contract, will lose some of the benefits I currently "enjoy" and do not know what what, if any, pay increase will be negotiated for the first year.

Hard decision as we only have one chance at this:(