Local Government Transparency Code

By law trade union representatives (including general, learning and health and safety representatives) are entitled to paid time off in order to undertake trade union duties. There is no right to paid time off to undertake trade union activities. 

The ACAS Code on Practice on Time off for Trade Union Duties and Activities defines trade union duties and trade union activities and states “There are positive benefits for employers, employees and for union members in encouraging the efficient performance of union representatives’ work, for example in aiding the resolution of problems and conflicts at work.  The role can be both demanding and complex.   In order to perform effectively union representatives need to have reasonable paid time off from their normal job in appropriate circumstances. 

In common with many other local authorities, there has been a long-standing arrangement for the Council to cover the salary costs of employees when undertaking trade union duties as required by legislation.  This arrangement has resulted in the Council having a strong working relationship with trade unions over the years which has enabled a broad range of organisational change including the ability to effectively implement budget reductions and changes in terms and conditions whilst maintaining excellent services to the residents of Hartlepool and positive industrial relations.

In 2022/23

• There were 24 (21.39 FTE) employees who were also union representatives (including general, learning and health and safety representatives) within the Council i.e. excluding employees in schools;
• Of the 24 (21.39 FTE) employees who were also union representatives only 1 devoted at least 50 per cent of their time to union duties with the remainder i.e. 23 (20.89 FTE) devoting less than 50 per cent of their time to union duties;
• The above employees represent Unison, GMB, AEP trade unions;
• The estimated spending by the Council on the above trade union representatives was £11,330. This estimate is calculated in accordance with the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 i.e. the number of full time equivalent days spent on union duties by authority staff that spent the majority of their time on union duties multiplied by the average salary; and
• The estimated spending by the Council on the above trade union representatives as a percentage of the total pay bill (excluding school employees) was 0.02%   This estimate is calculated in accordance with the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 i.e. the number of full time equivalent days spent on union duties by authority staff that spent the majority of their time on union duties multiplied by the average salary divided by the total pay bill.