Statements for Trade Union facility time

Slough Borough Council has a total of three paid (2 x Unison, and 1 x GMB) staff side union representatives. None of these representatives spend the majority of their time on union duties.

There are 3 paid representatives equating to 1 FTE posts allocated for trade union facility time.

Staff side union representatives are paid salary level 7 for this post. This is paid pro- rata for the hours they are seconded as a staff side union representative. The estimated spend on unions is £25,580.15. This represents an estimated 0.04% of the total basic pay bill, calculated as follows:

  • 25580.1484 / 72159373100 = 0.04%

The recognised main trade unions represented in the Local Authority are:

  • Unison
  • GMB
  • Unite.

There are local trade union representatives (general, learning and health and safety) within the council directorates. Slough Borough Council has local workplace representatives who are given ‘as and when’ time off in working hours (subject to prior agreement from managers) in accordance with the ACAS Code of Practice on Time off for Trade Union Duties and Activities including for duties such as:

  • meetings with other representatives or trade union officers on matters concerned with council employees
  • terms and conditions of employment; machinery for negotiation or consultation
  • matters of discipline
  • handling of grievances and disputes
  • health and safety representation
  • appearing on behalf of union members at an Employment Tribunal
  • to report the outcome of a consultation to union members.

Date updated: July 2021

Facility time reporting

The Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017 require public-sector employers to report annually on paid time off provided to trade union representatives for trade union duties and activities. These listings are for the reporting period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.

Central functions

Facility time report for central functions.

Education functions

Facility time report for education functions.