ABSTRACT
The job title 'full-time trade union officer' often causes confusion. There are, for example, lay officers of the union such as branch secretaries, shop stewards and works convenors who work full time on union business but who are not in receipt of a salary from the union nor are they regarded as employees of the union. There are, on the other hand, research officers and education officers who are salaried employees of trade unions and are classified as union 'staff' but who do not come into the category of fulltime officer. Practice varies between industries, between unions and, sometimes, even within unions. The present study has as its central focus full-time officers, elected or appointed by a trade union to administrate and negotiate for, and represent the interests of, trade union lay members on a day-to-day basis. These field officers hold such titles as Regional Secretary, Regional Official, Area Organiser, District Organiser and District Secretary.
