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The benefits of paid time off for trade union representatives

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The report, based on new analysis of official figures by the University of Bradford, shows that allowing union reps time off to represent their members improves staff retention, reduces illness and boosts industrial relations.

The analysis reveals that in the health sector staff turnover is almost three times lower in workplaces with union representatives than in workplaces without – amounting to a saving of more than £66million a year for the NHS alone in recruitment costs.

Facility time for trade union reps in the public sector has been the target of organised opposition for a number of years, with the trade union bill being the latest manifestation. This paper sets out to examine the value of facility time, and whether the government’s proposals are a proportionate response that supports the efficient working of the public sector.

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