TUC report reveals value of unions to the UK economy

A report published by the TUC suggests that the presence of unions in workplaces could be saving private and public sector employers as much £701m a year or £2m a day.
 
The report Facility Time for Union Reps: Separating fact from fiction reveals that significant cost savings are to be had in workplaces where union reps negotiate with employers on behalf of colleagues.

The report, written by Gregor Gall, Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Hertfordshire, found that with the workforce more productive and better trained, fewer cases were taken to employment tribunal. With staff tending to stay in post for longer, less is spent on recruitment and retention.
 
The value of union reps to the UK economy is further emphasised through savings to the taxpayer – making employers improve workplace conditions has enabled private and public sector employers to keep costs down.
 
The report also notes the pressure right-wing backbench MPs and associated groups are placing on the Government to limit the amount of time reps can spend improving workplace conditions and negotiating with employers.
 
Professor Gall’s findings reveal that a good deal of union reps’ work takes place in their own time and calculate that for every £1 spent on union facility time in the public sector, between £3 and £9 is returned in accrued benefits.
 
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Our research shows that there are huge benefits to employers – in both the public and private sectors – to be had as a result of the funding of facility time for union reps.”