Trade Union Facility Time

By law, trade union representatives are entitled to reasonable paid time off from their regular job to enable them to perform their union duties and to undertake relevant training. Trade union members, including representatives, may also ask for unpaid time off to undertake activities. Together, these arrangements constitute facility time.

We have a legal requirement to publish information on our website regarding the amount of facility time taken each year by staff who are union officials, , for each relevant period.

The ‘relevant period’ refers to 1 April to 31 March in the previous year, which is the period for which data is collected and published.

Relevant union officials
Perivale Primary School union official between the period 1st April 2022 and 31st March 2023

Facility time in this context includes:

•  Paid time off for the purpose of carrying out trade union duties as a union representative, union learning representative or union health and safety representative
• Paid time off for the purpose of undergoing training relevant to the carrying out of trade union duties
•  Paid time off for accompanying another of the employer’s workers to grievance or disciplinary hearings
• Paid and unpaid time off for taking part in trade union activities when acting as a union representative