GENERAL INFORMATION
ADVANTAGES OF MEMBERSHIP OF REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS OR REGISTERED
EMPLOYERS’ ORGANISATIONS WHO ARE PARTIES TO A BARGAINING COUNCIL
- Members
of trade unions and/or employers’ organisations who are parties to a
bargaining council are automatically placed in a position to give their
representatives mandates to-
a) Negotiate collective agreements in
general on their behalf;
b) Negotiate new or improved employment conditions;
c) Negotiate wages;
d) Negotiate new, amended or improved
social benefit funds.
- You
have the right to be represented by an official at any-
a)
Disciplinary hearing;
b)
Conciliation hearing; and/or
c)
Arbitration hearing.
- Membership
provides access to an industry specific “knowledge base” which is usually
available from officials of the trade unions or the employer
organisations.
- Party
trade unions and/or party employer organisations usually have better
financial resources to obtain legal advice or any other form of assistance
which may be required by members.
- The
voice of united members carries more weight when
giving their recommendations, demands and requests more power and
persuasion.
- Trade
union representatives (shop stewards) are entitled to paid leave to do
their union work.
- Representatives
of party trade unions and party employer organisations are selected and
voted for from within the membership base concerned.
- Only
registered trade unions and registered employers’ organisations may become
parties to a bargaining council provided that they are sufficiently
represented in the industry.
- Only
registered trade unions and registered employers’ organisations may enter
into agency shop and closed shop agreements.
- Only
registered trade unions can enjoy the LRA’s protection of organisational
rights in the workplace.
- A
further benefit of being a member of a registered trade union or
employers’ organisation is provided for in section 97 of the LRA which
absolves members of registered trade unions and employers’ organisations
for acts done by them in good faith in the course of protected industrial action.
They also have no liability for damages to any other persons. This
protection is not available to members of unregistered trade unions or
unregistered employer organisations.