Trade Unions and Staff Side Support
At Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we are committed to working in partnership with our recognised Trade Unions and Staff Side representatives. The policy in the Health Service is to support the system of collective bargaining and as a worker in the Health Service you are, therefore, encouraged to join a recognised organisation.
In this connection you are referred to the following extract of the leaflet issued by the Joint Secretaries of the NHS Staff Council:
"As a worker in the Health Service, you are not only permitted, but indeed encouraged to join a trade union, professional association or staff organisation. Through such bodies you can help decide opinion on your pay and conditions of service which will be negotiated with management representatives."
Trade unions play an important role in supporting employees, providing advice and representation, promoting professional interests, and working collaboratively with employers on matters relating to pay, terms and conditions, workplace wellbeing, and organisational change.
It is obvious that because the National Health Service is so large and scattered, it would be impossible for management to discover the views of all staff employed in it, if they were not organised. Through their unions and other organisations represented on NHS Staff Councils, staff can express their collective wishes which can be presented with real and effective force. Such organisations also represent their members before committees of all kinds on individuals’ problems.
Membership of a trade union or professional association is a personal choice. However, all Health Service Staff are urged to join an appropriate trade union, professional association or staff organisation and participate in its activities.
Trade Union and Staff Side Partnership Working
Our recognised Trade Unions work alongside the Trust through Staff Side representatives to ensure the views of colleagues are heard and considered. Together, we work to support positive employment relations, staff wellbeing, and continuous improvement across our services.
