About us
The Certification Officer (CO) and her team ensure that trade unions and employers鈥� associations carry out their statutory duties.
Responsibilities
The CO is an independent officer, appointed by the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
The CO:
- keeps a Official list of trade unions and a Official list of employers鈥� associations
- certifies the independence of trade unions
- ensures trade unions and employers鈥� associations submit an annual return which complies with the statutory provisions
- ensures trade unions submit statement to members and political fund notices
- publishes trade union and employers鈥� association annual returns and other related documents on her website
- ensures that trade unions and employers鈥� associations adhere to legal requirements when they merge
- oversees trade unions鈥� compliance with legal requirements when creating and maintaining political funds
- deals with complaints about trade unions or employers鈥� associations breaching certain rules or legal requirements
- investigates alleged financial irregularities as well as investigating potential breaches of certain legal requirements in trade unions
- deals with whistleblowing of potential fraud or financial irregularities by employees of trade unions or employers鈥� associations
- provides guidance for trade unions and employers鈥� associations on areas within her remit
- publishes decisions made in response to complaints and applications
The CO is funded largely by trade unions and employers鈥� associations through the collection of a levy each year.
The CO does not:
- oversee the general operation of trade unions and employers鈥� associations
- intervene in the day-to-day management or decision making of trade unions or employers鈥� associations
- provide advice on workplace disputes (you can )
- deal with issues around individual representation or other services provided by trade unions.
The CO
The CO is Sarah Bedwell. She is supported by a team of 6 staff in London.
听Read about the CO鈥檚 current priorities in her annual report.
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