Unions are organisations of workers joining together to protect and improve rights at work. To help achieve this goal, members are supported by key union roles; from on the ground delegates to expert industrial officers.
Below are some of the essential union roles working to protect your rights.
Union delegates
If you have any concerns or questions about your working rights, your workplace union delegates are the best place to start.
Union delegates perform an essential role in workplaces. They are union members who are elected by their co-workers to be the onsite union representative. Delegates receive union training and legal rights to help them perform their role. These rights include the right to represent workers in dispute settlements and the right to consult with employers about workplace changes.
Some enterprise agreements may provide additional rights to union delegates such as paid time to conduct union work or attend training.
Union delegates responsibilities include:
- Consulting with colleagues and management about workplace issues
- Helping to represent members in workplace issues
- Supporting co-workers in meetings with management
- Helping to negotiate pay and conditions on behalf of union members
- Building union membership in the workplace
- Running union meetings in the workplace and attending union network meetings.
Health and safety representatives (HSR)
Sometimes work can be dangerous, but it doesn’t have to be. If you have any concerns about your health and safety at work, in many workplaces, it will be a union trained HSR that you speak to first.
HSRs are elected by their co-workers to represent them in health and safety matters. By electing a HSR, workers get more of a say on health and safety issues and receive extra protection under the law. These protections include, the right to receive paid leave to attend training, the right to consult with members of their workgroup on health and safety matters and the right to take health and safety actions such as stopping work.
A HSRs core responsibilities include:
- Representing members of their work group concerning health and safety
- Monitoring health and safety compliance by employers
- Raising health and safety concerns with employers on behalf of their workgroup
- Working to resolve health and safety issues with the employer on behalf of their work group.
Union organisers
The best way to improve workplace conditions is to take collective action with your co-workers. But it can be hard to know the best way to go about this – that’s where union organisers can help.
Union organisers are union staff that support union members across their industry. They support members and delegates by:
- Working with members and campaigning to improve working conditions
- Building union membership in the workplace
- Providing industry-specific advice on workplace issues
- Supporting delegates and HSRs in workplace negotiations with employers
- Connecting members and delegates to industry-wide issues and campaigns
- Voicing members' concerns and issues at a state and federal level
Union organisers have the right to enter the workplaces of their union members if they have a Right of Entry permit and if they suspect a breach of workplace law or if workers have requested to speak to them.
Industrial officers
When it comes to workers’ rights, not all employers can be trusted to do the right thing. From bullying and harassment to unfair dismissal, if you need work-related legal advice Australian unions are the best place for workers to turn.
Union membership gives you access to industrial officers: union staff who are experts in workplace law. Industrial officers perform many important tasks that benefit the union movement and its members. Their responsibilities include:
- Advising members of the rights and obligations under industrial law
- Representing members in cases before courts and tribunals
- Assisting in enterprise bargaining negotiations between workers and employers
Unions are here to support and protect you. Join your union today!
Funding for this factsheet was provided by:
- the Victorian Government as part of the uTech project; and
- the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Please note that the information given here is general information only and is not legal advice. For further assistance, it is recommended you speak to your union.