The presence of unions in workplaces could be saving employers in the private and public sectors as much £701m a year or £2m a day, according to a report published by the TUC.
The report Facility Time for Union Reps: Separating fact from fiction, says that in workplaces where there are union reps negotiating with employers on behalf of their colleagues, there are significant cost savings to be had. These come in the form of more productive, and better trained, workforces, safer workplaces, fewer cases taken to employment tribunal – so as staff tend to stay in post for longer, less is spent on recruitment and retention. Written by Gregor Gall, Professor of Industrial Relations at the University of Hertfordshire, the TUC say the report demonstrates the value of union reps to the UK economy, not only helping improve workplace conditions but also enabling private and public sector employers to keep costs down, and so deliver huge savings to the taxpayer.
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