Employer wants to know who is in a union / how many

Savvy_Sue

Obviously I'm aware I can get advice from my trade union, but what's an appropriate response (beyond "mind your own business") if a manager asks if you're a member?

I'm thinking particularly of what non-members might be able to say, if willing, to perhaps prevent a refusal to say 'no' being interpreted as 'yes', which might well lead to additional pressure being applied in an already difficult situation. 

74jax

You could just reply 'I'd rather not comment'

Are they wanting to recognise the union maybe so those in the union can be part of union /company talks?  Or invite the union in and wasn't to know how many employees it might interest. 

We used to have the union rep come in but our email was worded similar to 'if you are part of the union and want to attend please let your manager know' 

Jillanddy

I'm thinking particularly of what non-members might be able to say, if willing, to perhaps prevent a refusal to say 'no' being interpreted as 'yes', which might well lead to additional pressure being applied in an already difficult situation. 

I very much doubt that your union is going to give you advice on that convoluted scenario for non-members! Why on earth would "no" be interpreted as "yes", and how would such an idiotic action make anything "difficult".

Personally, I find "yes" to be a perfectly appropriate answer, both as a manager and as an employee. I am a member of a union, and the only thing that makes more difficult is life for the employer. 

TELLIT01

Jillanddy said:

 Why on earth would "no" be interpreted as "yes", and how would such an idiotic action make anything "difficult".

The OP said "a refusal to say no" being interpreted as "yes", not interpreting 'no'as 'yes'

theoretica

Savvy_Sue said:

I'm thinking particularly of what non-members might be able to say, if willing, to perhaps prevent a refusal to say 'no' being interpreted as 'yes', which might well lead to additional pressure being applied in an already difficult situation. 

If your employer thinking someone may be in the union may lead to more pressure and a difficult situation I really hope the union wants to know.

elsien

A straightforward “why are you asking?”
Or more accurately “why do you need to know?”

Andy_L

elsien said:

A straightforward “why are you asking?”
Or more accurately “why do you need to know?”

If you have over 10% union members in a workplace then the Union can insist on recognition by the employer. So they may be seeing (in apparently a rather hamfisted way) if that's close to happening

elsien

I thought it was a higher figure than 10%. We were told over 50% when my company looked into it. 

Savvy_Sue

elsien said:

I thought it was a higher figure than 10%. We were told over 50% when my company looked into it. 

We've been told 40%. And we're getting close, and closer each day.

oh_really

If there is less than 50% of the workforce trade union members then it could become tricky during the statutory recognition procedure.

The process can be found at CAC website and https://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/legal/guidance/trade-union-recognition-changes-derecognition

Op, why does the employer wish to know this information?

A devious employer may claim they require this to enable contingency in event of running a service in the event of industrial action.

Jillanddy

elsien said:

A straightforward “why are you asking?”
Or more accurately “why do you need to know?”

"Are you in a union?" could be another variation.

But I suspect that the issue here is not related to the question or any of the answers. The fact someone is asking the question means that there is something else going on, and it is that thing that is the issue.