New trade union laws leave a fifth of employers feeling unprepared

People Management, the news website for the CIPD, reported on research conducted by ACAS that showed that a fifth of employers don’t feel confident about adapting to the new trade union laws.

Bob explains: “The Employment Rights Act 2025 marks the biggest overhaul of UK trade union law in a generation, with reforms taking effect throughout 2026 that significantly strengthen union rights and reshape the balance between employers and organised labour.

“Overall, the changes make it easier for unions to become formally recognised to conduct negotiations with employers on pay and conditions and to conduct industrial action. From October, employers will have a new duty to inform workers of their right to join a trade union, while qualifying unions will gain rights to access workplaces both physically and using digital communication channels. Union representatives will also benefit from stronger rights to paid facility time, workplace facilities and access to workplace equality data.”

Commenting on how employers should prepare, Bob added: “Employers should prepare for these changes by reviewing industrial action contingency plans, updating contracts and onboarding materials, assessing how union access requests will be managed, and ensuring managers understand the new legal framework. Many employers who already have recognition agreements with unions have not updated them for many years, so now is an ideal time to review those agreements both to ensure they reflect the expanded rights coming into force and to make sure they are fit for the organisation's purposes.”

Read the article: People Management

For more information, please get in touch with Bob Fahy, or a member of VWV's specialist Employment team.