Trade Union facility time

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The Value of Facility Time

Facility time generates benefits for employees, managers, and the wider community from effective joint working between union representatives and employers.

A number of studies have shown that union workplaces tend to be safer and that trade unions help to promote skills and training in workplace. Somerset Council benefits from Union Facility Time in a number of ways:

Provision of a ready-made structure for meaningful consultation and negotiation saves money and reassures members that their views are valued in decision-making.
Facilitation of partnership working with trade unions improves workplace relations and the reputation of an employer as ‘a good place to work’.
Earlier intervention about complaints, grievances and disciplinary action prevents escalation into more serious problems. It saves organisations (and taxpayers) money by reducing the impact on staff time and possible legal costs.
Better communication during restructuring and redundancy processes improves understanding of decisions, minimises negative impacts and reduces the number of working days lost through industrial action.

The facility time data is legally required by the Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017. It should be set in the context of the vast benefits that facility time brings to the workforce and the employer, as set out above.

Terms and conditions of access and re-use

Material published and accessed on our website is provided free of charge. Unless otherwise stated, this content is © Copyright of Somerset Council. The information is made available for re-use under the terms of the Open Government Licence for public sector information. Provided you accept the terms of this licence, it is not necessary to ask permission to re-use this information.

Historic downloads

Somerset County Council

Mendip District Council

TU Facility Time_April 2016 (CSV 319B)
TU facility time 2017-18 – please note this document has been amended September 2018 (CSV 310B)
TU Facility Time 2018-19 (CSV 310B)
TU Regulations Facility Time 2017-18 FINAL (CSV 586B)
TU Regulations Facility Time 2018-19 FINAL (CSV 581B)

Sedgemoor District Council

SDC Trade Union Time 2021-22 (CSV 268B)
SDC Trade Union Time 2021-22 (PDF 52.44KB)
SDC Trade Union Time 2018-19 (CSV 348B)
SDC Trade Union Time 2018-19 (PDF 114.16KB)

Last reviewed: January 4, 2024 by Sophie

Next review due: July 4, 2024