1. The Times 100 Business Case Studies
UNISON
Use of PEST analysis at UNISON

2. Introduction UNISON UK’s biggest public sector trade union
Members in e.g. NHS, transport, education, local government
Represents employees in the workplace
Campaigns for fair and equal treatment of members
Supports the rights
of migrant workers

3. PEST analysis External factors outside the control of business
May stem from different sources
Political – e.g. government legislation
Economic – e.g. the economy
Social – e.g. aging workforce
Technological – e.g. the internet
UNISON needs to consider how external factors may affect its campaigns

4. Political factors affecting migrant workers
UK and EU immigration legislation
Workers from EU member countries have right to live and work in the UK
Migrant populations often centred
in few key areas
Government needs to invest in
infrastructure to support increased population
UNISON lobbies government for minimum wage and legal working time for migrant workers

5. Economic factors Migrant workers provide necessary skills and services
Bring overall positive effect to UK economy - £6 billion in 2006
Increases size of total labour market
Migrant workers fill skill shortages e.g. in care homes
Often take lower skilled roles that
UK nationals do not want to do
E.g. in agriculture, hospitality, food packing

6. Social factors UK has aging population
Shrinking workforce supporting the growing number of retired workers
Migrant workers affected by social conditions
Language difficulties, understanding employment rights, cultural differences
UNISON provides support for migrant
workers
Dedicated website
Runs language courses
Provides range of information in 11 languages
Works with community groups for overseas workers
Works with employers to support migrant workers

7. Technological factors
Automation in production leads to less-skilled labour needed
Rise of online shopping leads to more
data management work
Low-cost air travel has increased
mobility for migrant workers
Improved telecommunications have opened up job seeking opportunities e.g. chat rooms, social networking sites
Electronic banking enables workers to transfer money more easily