Support Material

How Unions Work - Role of Unions

What Do Unions Do?

• Assist in the organisation of workplaces to get a better deal for workers
• Ensure that members know their entitlements
• Provide representation when negotiating an award, enterprise agreement or contract
• Represent members in any counselling or disciplinary matters before their employer - including unfair dismissals
• Assist with specialist industrial advice and legal representation
• Ensure members are being paid correctly by checking employer time and wage records
• Arrange workplace inspections in relation to occupation, health and safety (OH&S) matters
• Champion social issues, national and international. e.g. Refugees, Peace Movement, rights of disadvantaged people
• Act as a pressure group at State and Federal Government level on behalf of workers e.g. through ACTU or the Labor Council.
  

Role of Union Organiser / Official

• Oversees operation of union at the workplace – election of delegates / shop stewards
• Assists delegates in workplace negotiations
• Attends meetings of members
• Coordinates industrial campaigns
• Appears before industrial relations tribunals
  

Role of Union / Delegate 

• recruits new members
• represents members on local issues/grievances or workplace/OHS committees
• distributes union materials
• organises meetings of union members at workplace
• attends central union meetings
  

What Unions have achieved: The Union Scorecard

• The right of workers to form a union, which elects its own independent representatives
• Awards to ensure that employers observe minimum wages and working conditions
• Equal pay
• Long service leave
• Pay loading for evenings, nights and weekends
• Paid public holidays
• Periodic wage increases
• Maternity/adoption/parental leave
• Annual leave and leave loading
• Protective clothing and equipment provided by the employer
• Occupational health and safety laws
• Compensation for injury
• Superannuation
• The right to be given notice and to be consulted about changes at work (e.g. new technology, planned retrenchments, new working arrangements)
• Personal Carers leave

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