Access and Accountability: The Next Phase of Trade Union Reform
The UK's Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 25) continues to shape the landscape of trade union reforms. Following significant changes in industrial action, recognition, and electronic and workplace balloting, a new set of reforms is set to take effect. These changes will further shift the balance of power in favor of unions, increasing their visibility and access to workplaces.
The new reforms will introduce a process for access agreements between employers and unions, allowing even unions with no members in a workplace to access it. This development has sparked concerns about the potential for increased union membership and the government's intentions to monitor this trend before making any changes to the required percentage of union members. The government's decision to proceed with the new right of access without further consultation has raised questions about the implications of this move.
Employers will need to adapt to these changes and develop new strategies for engaging with unions. The reforms are part of a broader transformation of industrial relations in the UK, which has not been seen in a generation. As such, it is essential for boards to prioritize this issue and understand the implications of these changes for their organizations.