A trade union is a voluntary organisation which employees are free to join if they wish. There may be a subscription charge depending on size; it varies from a very large association to a small association. Trade unions offer a range benefits and advisory services to members, represent their members during disciplinary or grievance procedures and aim to protect and improve pay and conditions of employment. They approach the government about introducing laws, which will benefit employees.
Staff associations do not automatically have the same legal rights as independent trade unions, although many do. They may just provide an informal meeting ground for employers and employees and often have a similar role to a works council, where employees are involved in management and decision-making.
The ACAS are The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. The ACAS are an independent organisation that settles any disputes relating to unfair dismissal and try to stop employees or employers going to court.
The law states all employees have the right to join the Trade Union.
On the page attached to this there is an article on Tesco linked with trade unions. The article is about Tesco not wanting to pay their staff for days off when they are unwell, however they did compromise and say if an employee is off sick for 3 days or more and provides a doctor’s note they will receive sick pay. Usdaw union have said they have no objections but are not fully supporting it, whereas other trade unions believe that sick pay is an important part of an employer’s relationship with staff. It also declares the scheme has already been introduced in its Irish stores; the feedback from staff was positive.
Unions watch Tesco sick day plan
More controversial, however, is the idea of only giving sick pay if people are off for more than three days and provide a doctor's note.
Shop workers' union Usdaw said it was monitoring the scheme and was working closely with the company.
Free Choice
Usdaw spokesman Kevin Hegarty said that the union had no objection to the pilot scheme, but added that this "was not the same as fully supporting it".
Mr Hegarty pointed out that the trial was being run on a purely voluntary basis and would not affect any staff who already had contracts with Tesco.
Other trade unions were more reticent about speaking on the record, but said that sick pay was an important part of an employer's relationship with staff.
They classed it in the same category as pension provisions and holiday pay.
If anything, they said, the number of people taking so-called "sickies" was dropping and they were against any plan that increased pressure on workers to come in when unwell.
Good Reception
Sick leave - real and feigned - currently costs UK businesses an estimated £11bn a year.
Tesco, which recently reported profits of £1.7bn, said it was looking to cut levels of unplanned absence and is introducing the measures in about 20 stores.
It has already introduced the scheme in its Irish stores, where the company says absenteeism rates are lower.
It added that feedback from staff was positive.
By law a company in the UK is not obliged to pay for sick pay itself, and it is down to contractual agreements between the workers and employer.
The state, however, does underwrite a set level of support - known as "statutory sick pay" - to workers after the third day off.
Is Tesco right to not pay workers who take the day off because of sickness?
