Trade unions have been asked to bid for a share in the government’s union modernisation fund.
Between £5m and £10m will be available, over a number of years, to support innovative projects including:
training union representatives, in areas such as business and people management, to help promote the development of high-performance workplaces
reviewing internal union structures and organisation and to support more efficient management systems within unions
enabling unions to broaden their dialogue with members throught the greater use of the internet and other new technology
Employment relations minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: “This fund is to help unions get to grips with the major challenges they face in a modern, changing workplace.
“I am keen to see quality proposals that will make a difference to unions, their members and business.”
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The fund, created by the Employment Relations Act 2004, will not be available for the day-to-day work of unions or supporting recruitment drives.
Applications close on 3 October, with the government informing successful bidders by the end of the year.
