Time off for trade union duties and activities

An employee who is an official of an independent trade union that is recognised by the employer must be allowed reasonable time off with pay during working hours to:

• carry out those duties as an official that relate to matters for which the employer has recognised the union, or any other functions that the employer has agreed the union may perform;
• consult with the employer, or receive information from the employer, about mass redundancies or business transfers; or
• undergo training relevant to those duties and which is approved by the Trades Union Congress, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions or the independent union of which he or she is a member. 

An employee who is a member of an independent trade union that is recognised by the employer and who is a union learning representative must be allowed reasonable time off with pay during working hours to:

• carry out those duties that relate to union learning representatives; or
• undergo training relevant to the duties of a union learning representative.

An employee who is a member of an independent trade union that is recognised by the employer is entitled to reasonable time off for certain other trade union activities.  The employer is not obliged to pay the employee for time off for these activities. 

More detailed information can be found on the Labour Relations Agency’s code of practice ‘Time off for Trade Union Duties and Activities’, which can be accessed in the “Related tools and publications” section.