The STUC is represented on the Fair Work Convention and works with it and Government to implement the Fair Work Framework and Fair Work First in the public, private and Third Sector.
The Scottish Government’s stated intention is for Scotland to become a Fair Work nation by 2025. Since the introduction of Fair Work First in 2023 All public bodies and their subsidiaries are required to comply with Fair Work First guidance published by Scottish Government. The areas in which Fair Work is required include, real Living wage compliance, arrangements for effective workers’ voice, workforce development, use of zero hours contracts, gender pay gap, diversity and inclusion, flexible and family friendly working practices, and, use of fire and rehire practices.
- Compliance with Fair Work First criteria requires public bodies to provide factual evidence which must be signed off by the recognised trade union(s)
- Compliance with Fair Work First criteria is also required from 3rd party employers where public bodies source services from the independent sector by commissioning, procurement or grant funding.
- Fair Work First criteria for all public authorities cover BOTH the working conditions of directly employed staff AND the arrangements for commissioning or procuring services from 3rd parties.
- Where unions are recognised, Fair Work First criteria must be agreed or verified by all recognised trade unions.
Please refer to the Scottish Government guidance for full information. https://www.gov.scot/publications/fair-work-first-guidance-3/pages/8/
The STUC have dedicated Fair Work Officers to support trade union organising around Fair Work, map opportunities, sharing of best practice and assess and deliver training to reps and officers.
The Fair Work Convention has a range of resources including the “Fair Work Self-Assessment Tool for Workers” https://tool.fairworkconvention.scot/, TUC Education has produced and an online Fair Work resource [link] and the STUC has produced Fair Work First Trade Union Guidance (see Resources). Our project will seek to build on this support by working with partners to create additional training and resources tailored to the needs of reps and officers.
Fair Work: Leadership and Equality Programme
The Scottish Government’s Fair Work Directorate has provided funding to the STUC to help develop leadership capacity within the trade union movement in Scotland. Building leadership capacity within unions is essential through education and training in taking forward the Fair Work agenda.
The funding is made available to trade unions, through the STUC, to develop leadership capacity, with a focus on enhanced development for Union Reps and Stewards, full-time officials, or under-represented activists e.g. amongst workers with protected characteristics.
The funded activity may build upon existing union leadership programmes or contribute to the development of new leadership activities. This programme is also aimed at increasing equality in the workplace through the provision of education and training and the recruitment of Equality Reps.
Resources
- The Fair Work Convention
- STUC & Scottish Government Severe Weather Charter
- Fair Work for Apprentices
- Fair Work Framework Summary
- Fair Work Framework Full
- Scottish Hazards - Mental Health and Fair Work
- Fair Work First Trade Union Guidance
- STUC Fair Work Toolkit
- Fair Work Self-Assessment Tool for Workers
- Freelance and Forgotten: A Report on Worker Exploitation in Scotland’s Creative Industries
- Fair Work for Freelancers Checklist
