What rights does a union have when it is recognised?

If the union is an independent union, (i.e. has a certificate of independence issued by the Certification Officer), a number of legal rights follow. These rights include:

• disclosure of information by the employer for collective bargaining purposes
• reasonable time off, with pay, for union officials to carry out union duties
• reasonable time off, without pay, for members to carry out union activities
• to appoint safety committee representatives
• consultation prior to redundancy
• consultation prior to business transfers.

There are Codes of Practice issued by ACAS on Disclosure of Information and Time Off, which give more detail.