Union case work is the backbone of ensuring fair treatment and advocating for the rights of workers across various sectors. From addressing grievances to negotiating better working conditions, case work plays a crucial role in upholding our working conditions.

At its core, case work involves representing individual members or groups of workers in their interactions with employers. This could range from resolving disputes over pay or discrimination to supporting employees facing disciplinary action. Through careful investigation, advocacy, and negotiation, union representatives aim to achieve positive outcomes for their members.

In essence, union case work is about empowering workers, amplifying their voices, and fighting for fairness and justice in the workplace. It embodies the collective strength of workers coming together to protect their rights and improve their working conditions.

Union case work encompasses various types of cases, each requiring unique strategies and approaches to achieve positive outcomes for members. Some examples of the types of case work the union has engaged with recently includes:

1. Grievances: Addressing complaints or disputes raised by individual employees regarding their employment rights, such as issues related to pay, working conditions, discrimination, or harassment.
2. Disciplinary cases: Representing employees who are facing disciplinary action or dismissal from their jobs, ensuring fair treatment and due process are followed throughout the proceedings.
3. Health and safety issues: Advocating for improvements in workplace health and safety standards to protect members from hazards and prevent accidents or injuries.
4. Discrimination and harassment: Supporting workers who have experienced discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics such as race, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation, and seeking remedies to address these injustices.
5. Appeals and tribunals: Representing workers in appeals processes or legal proceedings, such as employment tribunals, to challenge unfair treatment or unlawful actions by employers.
6. HERA regrading
7. One of the biggest areas we are currently engaged in at the moment is helping employees negotiate fairer an more accurate workloads.

If you feel you need to talk to a case worker please email UCU@tees.ac.uk and someone will get in touch with you.

Please note: UCU is not a charity, all our local representatives are volunteers, and their time is precious. As a result we cannot, in common with all Trade Unions, get involved in casework if the problem occurs prior to joining UCU, or within three months of joining. In such cases. Teesside UCU may at its discretion provide a measure of support which will consist only of a telephone call or brief meeting, and we will not attend formal meetings or arrange free legal advice. In such cases we would strongly advise non-members to contact the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, and/or a solicitor.