Identifying collective issues

Getting to know your branch and keeping in contact with members will help reps to identify common issues.

TUC guidance suggests that reps who receive grievances on issues that could affect other workers could consider with the member whether:

• other members have already raised similar complaints;

• the issue may affect other workers;

• collective bargaining, or a collective grievance, is a more effective way of tackling the concern.

When a member faces a disciplinary issue, the TUC advises reps to consider:

• whether this is a one-off case or part of a pattern. Could this be the result of poor performance management, lack of management training, bullying, or workload issues?

• whether certain types of worker are being disciplined more than others, for example, those from minority ethnic groups or trade union reps.

Information collected from other members might support the case for a revised policy to manage a particular issue.