What is a trade union representative?
Local Trade Union Representatives play a key role in supporting you at work. They’re your point of contact for workplace issues, ensuring you're treated fairly and helping you navigate challenges.
They focus on your specific needs in your workplace, offering practical advice and assistance tailored to your situation. With a local representative, you have someone who knows the environment and can resolve problems when necessary, ensuring your voice is heard and your rights are upheld.
Interested in getting involved? Apply here.
Being a BDA trade union representative has allowed me to develop leadership skills, gain valuable training, and build professional networks, while advocating for my colleagues and gaining deeper insight into healthcare management and policy.
Stephanie Owen - BDA Trade Union Representative
What do trade union representatives do?
Trade union representatives play an essential role in supporting and protecting workers. Here’s what they typically do:
- Talk to members about workplace issues, advise them, and keep them informed of the latest developments
- Represent members who have work-related problems (i.e. Sickness, Grievance and Disciplinaries)
- Get involved in the wider union (i.e. attend training, conferences, and BDA Country Employment Relations Committee meetings)
- Negotiate with the employer (local manager) and via joint union committees with senior management
- Attend staff-side committee meetings
- Recruit members into the union and organise them around workplace issues
Why become a BDA trade union representative?
Becoming a trade union representative is a powerful way to make a real difference for your colleagues and workplace. You’ll be the voice for fair treatment and better working conditions, helping to create a stronger, more equitable environment for everyone. We will provide you with all the support and training you need. Plus, you'll gain valuable skills like leadership and negotiation to help you grow personally and professionally.
- The role will give you additional skills and experience, especially in employment law and human resources policies.
- You will help protect people's rights at work and encourage fairness in the workplace.
- You will support members in their hour of need, which can be very rewarding.
- There is a possibility of attending national conferences and events.
- The BDA also awards annually the Mary Turner Prize to a BDA Trade Union Representative who makes a major contribution to the role.
It is an honour to be recognised by the BDA in this way. The industrial action on the Northern Ireland Pay Award was a great example of the impact members can have when they use their voices together to bring about change.
Mary Turner Award Winner 2024 - Rachael Hawthorne, Trade Union National Executive Committee (TUNEC) member for Northern Ireland and Chair of the Northern Ireland Employment Relations Committee (NIERC)
How can I become a BDA Trade Union Representative?
Start by reading the BDA Trade Union Representative role descriptor to understand the role better. Then, complete the application form below. Once approved, we will send you your credentials, and you will be accredited as a BDA Trade Union Representative.
You must be a full BDA member employed by an employer to become a representative.
Elections
Elections of BDA Trade Union Representatives and Health and Safety Representatives (a combined role) will occur every three years per the BDA Trade Union Terms of Reference and the principles of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
The current election period runs from 1 July 2023 to 1 July 2026. You can apply and stand down from the role at any time.
What support will I get?
You will get support from the BDA Trade Union team, especially from our National Employment Relations Officers, who are trained and experienced representatives. With their expert guidance, you can handle workplace issues confidently.
You’ll also become part of a supportive community of reps dedicated to workers' rights, where you can connect and collaborate with others. You’ll have access to training, resources, and shared knowledge to help you be a strong advocate in your workplace.
The BDA provides structured training programs to develop all the knowledge and skills needed by a BDA Trade Union Representative. The BDA training is delivered by the TUC (Trade Union Congress) tutors and is accredited.