Working with trade unions: employers
Union subscriptions
Some trade union members pay their union subscriptions directly out of their wages.
The employer then gives these payments to the union.
This is often called the ‘check-off’.
It’s up to you if you want to run the check-off. A union cannot force you to run the check-off unless you’ve agreed to it in your workers’ employment contracts.
Authorising the check-off
A worker must give you written permission to take their union subscriptions from their wages.
This must be signed and dated. Their permission starts from this date and continues until they say otherwise.
If you take the check-off without proper permission you could be taken to an employment tribunal.
You can pre-print consent forms as long as the worker signs and dates the form themselves. Unions are also allowed to get the written consent from the worker then forward it to you.
Stopping the check-off
You must stop taking check-off payments if your employee asks you to.
They must give you written notice to stop the check-off and you must be given reasonable time to stop it.
You can stop running the check-off at any time. If it’s in your workers’ employment contracts, you may have to give them notice.
The role of the union in the check-off
The union does not have to help run the check-off. However, you can involve it if you want to. You could, for example, ask the union to help you get initial consent from its members.
You could also charge the union for the work involved in administering the check off.
Even if you involve the union in the check-off, it’s still your responsibility to make sure you make check-off deductions properly.