The role of workplace representative

Welcome to your exciting new role!

Well done! You’ve been elected workplace representative at your workplace. As a union representative, you can pursue the issues that are important to you and your colleagues and gain more influence over decisions that affect terms and conditions and wellbeing at the workplace. You will be an important go-between for your colleagues in dialogue with the employer and the trade union. Many union representatives say that they find the role stimulating have learned a lot, and that being able to help improve things for everyone at work, big things as well as little ones, is a satisfying feeling.

Your role as a workplace representative involves

• Receiving important information from the employer in accordance with the Co-determination Act and representing the members when major changes take place in the workplace
• Talking to members and passing on their views to your employer
• Highlighting the issues that are important to members
• Holding members’ meetings and AGMs with members
• Providing information on membership, and spreading awareness of the benefit of Unionen in the workplace

Negotiations with your employer

There are three different types of workplace representative role. The difference between them is whether or not you have a mandate to negotiate with the employer. If you have an information mandate, you do not negotiate with your employer. If you have a limited negotiating mandate, you negotiate with your employer on issues decided by the members’ meeting. This decision must clearly show which areas the members have given you a mandate to negotiate on. Other areas are negotiated between the employer and a representative from Unionen’s regional office. If the members have given you a full negotiating mandate, you deal with all union negotiations with the employer. Of course you will still receive support from Unionen.

Getting started in your role

idea to put a system in place. Start by thinking about what you want to achieve in your role. Then write a simple to-do list for how you want to organise the work. We’ve put together some useful and important tips for what it could contain here:

Invite the union members at your workplace to a meeting where you introduce yourself and your role as workplace representative – preferably over coffee.

• Tell members how they can reach you – by email, by phone or the times you are available.

• Talk to members about how the workplace can be even better. Draw up a list of priorities where you all choose which issue you want to top the list. A template for the plan is provided here.

• Go on a course to get up to speed on your role.

• If there aren’t any collaboration procedures already in place, contact your manager/employer to pave the way for a good dialogue with your employer. Propose meeting times, such as one hour on the first Monday of the month. These are occasions when you can both bring up priority issues.

• Work with the work environment representative

• Is there a work environment representative at your workplace? Find good ways of working together so that you can jointly raise awareness of union issues. Although you might belong to different unions, there is much to be gained from working together.

Work with the work environment representative

Is there a work environment representative at your workplace? Find good ways of working together so that you can jointly raise awareness of union issues. Although you might belong to different unions, there is much to be gained from working together.

Skills development too!

The role of a workplace representative isn’t just good for the workplace. It’s also good for you and your personal development. You gain access to free training programmes and seminars that you have the opportunity to attend during paid working hours. As the link between your employer and members, you’ll have an overview of your organisation and its decision-making pathways, and by virtue of your role, you’ll have a real chance to exert influence. Unionen’s trade union advisors and your regional office will support you, ensuring that you are comfortable and secure in your role. It is also a useful experience to have on your CV.