Consultation on Draft Code of Practice 0n Time Off for Trade Union Duties and Activities
The Labour Relations Agency has revised its Code of Practice on Time Off for Trade Union Duties and Activities (which includes guidance on Time Off for Union Learning Representatives). This revised draft Code closely follows the Code which was issued by ACAS in January 2010 for use in Great Britain.
The Agency invites your comments on the draft Code which is available by clicking on the following link
Draft Time off code -May 2010 - Public Consultation Exercise
If you require a printed version or if you require the document in an alternative format or language, please contact Bernie Palmer at bernie.palmer@lra.org.uk or telephone 028 90 337411.
In revising the current Code the Agency considered the following issues;
- the provision of cover when employees take time off to undertake their functions as representatives
- the adjustment of workloads for representatives to take account of their time off
- the position of line managers of workplace representatives, and advice to them in managing absences
- the value of training and retraining workplace representatives to reflect the needs of modern workplaces and the changing legal framework
- workplace access to e-learning materials by representatives,
- the position of representatives who have atypical work patterns or who service other employees with atypical work patterns,
- the use of ICT equipment and the internet by representatives,
- the confidentiality of communications involving representatives whilst ensuring necessary workplace security,
- the growth in non-union employee representation,
- updates to statutory source references which have changed since the current Code was implemented in 2004.
When the Code is implemented it will replace the current Agency Code of Practice – Time Off for Trade Union Duties and Activities published in May 2004.
Public consultation on the draft Code will end on Friday 6th August 2010. Responses can be sent by post, e-mail or fax for the attention of:
Mrs P Mc Quillan
Employment Relations Manager
Labour Relations Agency
2-8 Gordon Street
Belfast BT1 2LG.
Fax: 028 9033 0827
e-mail: patricia.mcquillan@lra.org.uk
The Agency may publish a summary of responses following completion of the consultation process. Your response, and all other responses to the consultation, may be disclosed on request. The Agency can only refuse to disclose information in exceptional circumstances. Before you submit your response, please read the paragraphs below on the confidentiality of consultations as they give guidance on the legal position about any information given by you in response to this consultation.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives the public a right of access to any information held by a public authority, namely, the Agency in this case. This right of access to information includes such information provided in response to a consultation. The Agency cannot automatically consider as confidential information supplied to it in response to a consultation. However, it does have the responsibility to decide whether any information provided by you in response to this consultation, including information about your identity, should be made public or be treated as confidential.
This means that information provided by you in response to the consultation is unlikely to be treated as confidential, except in very particular circumstances.
For further information about confidentiality of responses, please contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (or see website at:
).
