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Trade unions

BIS is responsible for policy and legislation on trade unions including:

• trade union recognition and collective bargaining
• industrial action
• Statutory Redundancy Pay
• guarantee payments
• providing information and advice on trade unions and their policies

Trade union guidance

Guidance on trade unions in the workplace can be found on businesslink.gov.uk, for employers, and Directgov for employees or workers:

• businesslink.gov.uk guidance on employee representatives and trade unions 
• Directgov guidance on trade unions 

BIS guidance

• Code of practice: Access and unfair practices during recognition & derecognition ballots (786KB)
• Code of Practice: Industrial action ballots and notice to employers (186KB)
• Code of Practice: Picketing (140KB)
• Industrial action and the law: A guide for employees, trade union members and others
• Industrial action and the law - Guidance
• Industrial action and the law: Citizen's right to prevent disruption
• Payment of union subscriptions through the check off
• Trade union executive elections: a guide for trade unions, their members and others
• Trade union funds and accounting records - Guidance
• Trade union membership: rights of members and non-members
• Trade Union political funds: a guide for trade unions, their members and others
• Unjustifiable discipline by a trade union - Guidance

Public competition for organisations to scrutinise ballots and elections under trade union law

On 24 September the Department launched a public competition to identify suitable organisations to undertake and scrutinise statutory ballots and elections under trade union law. The competition is being carried out jointly with the Northern Ireland Department for Employment and Learning (DELNI).

Applications should be made in writing to BIS by 23 October.

Applications and enquiries should be made to:

Glenn Harrison
Employment Relations Directorate
BIS
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Tel: 020 7215 0945
Glenn.Harrison@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Read the press notice: New Call For Scrutineers Of Trade Union Ballots - 24 September 2009

Download a prospectus containing more information for applicants:

Public competition for organisations to scrutinise ballots and elections under trade union law: information for interested organisations (11KB)

The Union Modernisation Fund

The purpose of the Union Modernisation Fund is to provide financial assistance to independent trade unions and their federations in support of innovative projects which speed unions' adaptation to a changing labour market and new ways of working. Click above for further information.

• Union Modernisation Fund