Trade unions
A trade union is an association of workers in a particular industry or sector, designed to protect the rights, interests and working conditions of employees. Large trade unions in the UK include the TUC, Unite, Unison, the GMB and Usdaw.
Trade unions can receive recognition, or employers can derecognise trade unions. Employment laws protecting employees taking industrial action, such as taking part in strikes or picketing, are contained in the Employment Rights Act 1996 and Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
The 10 most important employment law cases in 2019
We round up the most significant cases of the year including legal judgments on CCTV, restrictive covenants, enhancing shared parental leave, collective bargaining and more...
Northern Ireland health strike continues after pay offer rejected
A fresh pay offer for health workers in Northern Ireland, who have been on strike for almost two weeks, has been rejected by unions.
Union seeks pay rises for Capita’s O2 and Tesco Mobile staff
Capita has been urged to increase pay for staff who work in its O2 and Tesco Mobile customer contact centres.
Personnel Today Awards 2019: Great Western Railway on track with Managing Change Award
Train operator Great Western Railway got the green signal from the Personnel Today Awards 2019 judges, bagging the Managing Change...
Royal Mail wins High Court injunction to halt postal strikes
Royal Mail has won a High Court injunction to prevent postal workers from striking in the run-up to Christmas.
The...
Architects form union to tackle culture of poor workplace practice
A union has been formed specifically to represent architects who, say its founders, work in an industry awash with poor workplace practice.
Royal Mail seeks High Court injunction on Christmas strike action
Royal Mail claims there were “potential irregularities” in the strike ballot.
University staff to strike over pensions, pay and working conditions
University lecturers and support staff at 60 universities are to strike for eight days in two separate disputes over pensions,...
‘Up to 12,000’ Asda staff face dismissal this weekend
Up to 12,000 Asda staff are yet to sign a new contract that will require them to work flexible hours...
Bolt drivers urge better pay and recognition of workers’ rights
Drivers for the minicab app Bolt have staged a protest against what they describe as “unfair” dismissals and its alleged...
Leaked memo reveals PM’s desire to weaken workers’ rights post-Brexit
A leak over the weekend of a memo confirms that Boris Johnson intends to water down workers’ rights in the post-withdrawal treaty negotiations.
Older workers drive growth in night work
Nearly one million workers aged over 50 are now working through the night with night working at its highest level since records began.
Gig workers should be able to form unions, says EU commissioner
The European Union’s competition commissioner has said that gig workers should be able to “team up” to form unions.
Workers’ rights ‘watered down’ in Johnson’s Brexit deal
The issue of what happens to workers’ rights has become a central plank in the Brexit debate as MPs prepare...
BMA apologises after report exposes ‘old boys’ club’ culture
The British Medical Association has apologised to members after an independent review found that female doctors felt “undervalued, ignored or...
