Unpaid time off for union activities



All members of recognised unions, not just their representatives, have the right to reasonable time off without pay to take part in trade union activities, except for industrial action (section 170, TULRCA). This would include shift-workers attending trades council and union branch meetings. The EAT ruled, in Luce v LB Bexley [1990] IRLR 422, that there was no right to time off to attend a lobby of Parliament to protest over legislation not significantly specific to the workers concerned. 



The Acas Code onTime off for union duties and activities gives some examples of “activities”, which include attending workplace meetings for reps to report on the outcome of negotiations, meeting full-time officers to discuss relevant issues, voting in union elections and accessing the services of a union learning rep.