Trades Union Membership

  1. Definition
  2. Equality Law
  3. Policy & Guidance
  4. OU Resources
  5. External Resources

Definition

Trade union membership status indicates whether or not a person belongs to a trade union.

Back to top

Equality Law

Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (Applies in Northern Ireland)

This law prohibits discrimination and harassment on the grounds of religious belief and political opinion and applies to the fields of employment, higher education and goods, facilities and services.

This order also contains provisions related to equality monitoring and the statutory duty to promote fair participation in employment.

Political opinion is not simply confined to covering Northern Ireland politics but has been held to include opinions such as membership of the ‘broad left’ of a trade union.

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Applies in Northern Ireland)

The protected characteristic of political opinion is subject to the duty placed on public authorities (which includes the OU) to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity

  • between persons of different age, religious belief, political opinion, racial group, marital status or sexual orientation
  • between men and women generally
  • between persons with a disability and persons without
  • between persons with dependants and persons without.

This entails more than the elimination of discrimination and requires proactive measures to be taken to ensure equality for people of different racial groups in our policies and decision-making.

In addition, public authorities have a duty to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between people of religious belief, political opinion or racial group.

Back to top

Policy & Guidance

Equality Scheme

Protected characteristic

Trade union membership status is one of the protected characteristics in our Equality Scheme.

Equality, Diversity and Widening Access and Success Strategy Action Plan

Actions in our Equality, Diversity and Widening Access and Success Action Plan set out our plans to achieve our equality objectives and widening access and success strategy priorities. 

Recruitment Guidance

The University’s Effective Recruitment and Selection Guide for selectors provides practical advice on fair, efficient and effective practice in the recruitment and selection of all categories of staff, in line with our equality and diversity policies.  OU staff can view the guide on the Human Resources intranet site.

Back to top

OU Resources

Employee Assistance Programme

OU staff have access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which is a support/ counselling service provided by Wisdom Health Assured for the OU.  The EAP covers a range of issues such as sickness, family issues, finances etc.  Information about the programme is available to OU staff from the Human Resources intranet site.

Open University Branch of the University and College Union

The Open University branch of the University and College Union (OUBUCU) has its own intranet site for those employed at the OU in academic (including associate lecturer), academic-related or research, or research student roles.

UNISON

UNISON is the recognised trade union for secretarial and clerical staff at the OU.

Back to top

External Resources

You may find these external resources useful.

Back to top

image:  StuartMiles | freedigitalphotos.net