Union Employee Representation (Trade Union)

A trade union is an independent organisation that speaks for the employees when it comes to pay, working conditions and policies of the workplace. In the UK trade unions have statutory rights governing their right to negotiate with employers for their members, to collectively bargain and represent individuals in disciplinary or grievance situations (Acas, 2024). In the public sector organisations, unions such as Unison are essential to promoting employee voice and protecting working conditions. After the merger, trade unions can help manage employees’ concerns, mitigate conflicts and assist in facilitating fair consultation during the organisational changes.

Non-Union Employee Representation (Staff Council)

A staff council consists of elected employee representatives and management as a non-union employee representation body. According to CIPD (2025c), its function is to advise on workplace issues, encourage dialogue and discuss subjects like working conditions, health and safety, and organisational change. While often lacking formal bargaining rights compared to trade unions, staff councils do serve as a communication bridge between employees and leadership. In the public sector setting, staff councils can assist to ensure that the views of staff are heard especially where union membership is low or on issues not covered by collective agreements.

Similarities and Differences

Both trade unions and staff councils are…

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