Many UNISON branches affiliate to the Labour Research Department – or LRD – and may have recently received an LRD email offering new services.
This is a result of changes made at the national level in last few years.
UNISON reviewed its national affiliation to the LRD in 2011. We are still affiliated to LRD, but are no longer paying for extra services which gave all UNISON activists access to the online LRD publications. However, UNISON has recently re-subscribed to the LRD Pay-Line database where you can access information on more than 2,000 collective agreements with employers of all sizes in both the private and public sectors.
In addition to information about pay settlements and pay rates, Pay-Line has information about working hours, holidays and special leave, overtime rates, pensions, shift pay, regional allowances, maternity, paternity, other family friendly policies (flexible working, career breaks), union facilities and other subjects that may be covered by negotiations.
You can find LRD’s Payline database here
This service is password protected – the password will be circulated to all branches periodically via eFocus or your regional contact should be able to provide it to you on request.
For a full subscription to all LRD publications including booklets and online access we have arranged preferential rates for UNISON branches.
Many branches are directly affiliated to LRD and get these services. But if your branch is not currently affiliated, or just subscribes to the Labour Research magazine, we have agreed preferential rates for UNISON branches who want to affiliate for the first time or upgrade.
UNISON regions can affiliate at these rates also.
LRD has set up a special UNISON publications online subscription and information page on their website so you can explore this new arrangement and get access to this valuable resource (see below). Or you can call 020 7928 3649.
LRD-UNISON publications subscription page (external link, will open in a new window)
LRD main website (external link, will open in a new window)
Subscribing will give you instant access to the full contents of the LRD publications database.
It is a fantastic research tool, that’s easy to use and fast. You can search all LRD booklets – such as Law at work and Health and safety law – Labour Research and Workplace Report by key words, or you can select a booklet title or a publication by date. It will display articles, features, news pieces, law reports or relevant cases.
For more information contact Michelle Singleton of the UNISON policy unit by emailing policy@unison.co.uk.