Role of unions
Learn about the role of unions in the workplace and about bargaining with unions.
On this page:
- Unions in the workplace
- Workplace delegates
- Bargaining with unions
- Tools and resources
- Related information
Unions in the workplace
Unions are bodies that represent the interests of workers in particular industries or occupations. Unions play an important role in the workplace.
They can advise on and resolve workplace issues by being a voice for employees and act as a bargaining representative during bargaining negotiations.
Other responsibilities of unions include ensuring employers are meeting their minimum obligations and looking into suspected breaches of:
- workplace laws
- discrimination laws
- workplace safety laws.
Workplace delegates
Employees can also be elected or appointed as delegates to be a representative for their union’s members in the workplace. Visit Workplace delegates for more information.
Bargaining with unions
Bargaining is a process where employers and employees negotiate the terms and conditions of an enterprise agreement.
Employers and employees can be represented by a bargaining representative during this process. Normally the bargaining representative for employees will be a union.
All bargaining representatives and other parties involved in the process have to bargain in good faith.
The Fair Work Commission (the Commission) provides information on:
- how to make an enterprise agreement
- the rules on bargaining, including good faith bargaining and resolving disputes about bargaining.
The Commission is the national workplace relations tribunal and registered organisations regulator.
Corrupting benefits
Bargaining representatives and other parties have to follow rules about disclosing benefits that they or a person related to them might get from a proposed enterprise agreement that they're a bargaining representative for.
This means that if unions and employers are bargaining for an enterprise agreement, and either of them (or a related person) will or could get a financial benefit from something in the proposed agreement, they have to make sure that everyone else in the bargaining process knows about it. This includes employees who will be covered by the agreement.
If either the union or employer has to disclose a benefit, they have to create a 'disclosure document'. Find out more at Disclosure rules during enterprise bargaining.
A union who creates a disclosure document has to give it to the employer, who then has to provide it to the employees.
An employer who creates a disclosure document has to give it to their employees.
The Commission gives information and guidance on corrupting benefits and disclosure rules. Learn more at Corrupting benefits and disclosure rules.
Source reference: Fair Work Act 2009 s.176 - 178, 536
