TUC Promotes Business Benefits of Unions to Employers

By TUC

Non-unionised companies across the UK are to be targeted by the TUC in a concerted attempt to convince reluctant employers that, rather than posing a threat to them, union involvement in their workplaces could actually prove to be an asset to their businesses.

Over the next few weeks, 2,000 copies of a new leaflet, 'An employers' introduction to trade unions', will be sent to small and medium-sized firms in towns and cities across the country. The glossy publication uses official figures*to show that companies where there is a union tend to be safer, better trained and more productive workplaces.

'An employers' introduction to trade unions' says that:

The involvement of union workplace reps in disputes between individuals and their employers can stop cases from having to go to employment tribunals, saving the UK up to £43m in unnecessary applications to the courts.

The existence of union reps in workplaces has a positive benefit on the UK economy of up to £10bn a year.

Over 15,000 learning reps help make work-based training courses happen, improving skills to the tune of up to £146m in terms of increased productivity.

Union safety reps can save the economy as much as £578m a year by ensuring workplaces become less hazardous and causing fewer days to be lost as a result of work-related injuries and illnesses.