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.
South Western Railway staff strike in long-running guard dispute
Guards and train drivers for South Western Railway began a five-day strike today (18 June) – the latest walk-out in...
Wahaca backtracks on charging waiters over unpaid bills
Mexican-style street food chain Wahaca has altered its policy on making serving staff pay part of the bills of customers who leave without paying.
Unlawful inducements decision overturned by Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal has overturned a key employment tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal decision on whether employers can offer...
Junior doctors to vote on four-year pay deal
Junior doctors are to be balloted on whether to accept a four-year deal which will mean annual pay uplifts of...
Mayfair club kitchen porters call for the Living Wage
The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has urged one of London’s most exclusive membership clubs to ensure its...
Ford ‘to close Bridgend site’ by September 2020
Ford will close its Bridgend manufacturing plant by September 2020 with the loss of 1,700 jobs, workers have been told....
Court of Appeal to hear unlawful inducements case
An employer that was found to have breached trade union regulations by directly approaching workers with a pay deal and...
RMT union secures two-year pay deal with Network Rail
The RMT Union has won an above-inflation pay deal with Network Rail and has written to the track and infrastructure...
Outsourced government workers strike over pay
Outsourced workers at two government departments are striking over low pay and changes to pay cycles which a union has...
Charity workers’ mental health at risk
Four out of five workers in the charity sector have suffered workplace stress in the past 12 months, and 42% felt their job was damaging their mental health.
Fast-fashion retailer Boohoo rejects union discussions
Online fashion retailer Boohoo has refused to allow trade union representatives to discuss recognition for employees, The Guardian has reported....
Delta Airlines under fire over anti-union poster
American airline Delta, which operates 13 daily flights from the UK, has been heavily criticised in the US over posters encouraging workers not to spend money on union membership.
Businesses are resisting worker representation on boards
Prime minister Theresa May’s aspiration for employers to have more workers in boardrooms appear to have been thwarted by organisations...
Outsourcing: How the IWGB nearly overturned collective bargaining rules
Last month the High Court dismissed a case which would have seen outsourced workers able to negotiate pay and conditions - but the fight still has legs
Outsourcing giant faces protests over payroll upgrade
The outsourcing company ISS faces protests today over changes to its payroll system that will see it withhold the pay...
