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.
Communicating change: The ‘Scary Six’ personas you need to win over
Continuing our three-part serialisation of her book, Lucy Adams shares her “Scary Six”, examples of workplace personas that HR needs...
Outsourced Whitehall support workers to strike over low pay
Cleaners, receptionists and security guards at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)...
Employee ‘class actions’ on the rise: what does this mean for employers?
The courts have seen a significant rise in the number of employment claims brought by large groups of individuals. The...
Six employment law decisions that will shape 2019
Which employment law decisions will shape 2019? We outline six of the most significant cases in the pipeline – from...
The 10 most important employment law cases in 2018
As always, HR professionals had their fair share of employment law cases to keep track of in 2018, but what...
Theresa May could back worker protections to secure Brexit deal
Theresa May could decide to boost workers’ rights in a bid to win Labour support for her Brexit deal.
Brexit...
‘Wages worth third less in some areas than decade ago’: TUC
The TUC has found that the average worker has lost £11,800 in real earnings since 2008
TUC wants 1m new manufacturing and tech jobs by 2030
The TUC has called for the government to set a target for a million new manufacturing and hi-tech jobs by...
Largest university in UK hit by boycott over outsourced staff
Academics, students and leading politicians have launched a boycott of the University of London in support of outsourced workers
High Court upholds Deliveroo self-employment and collective bargaining ruling
The High Court has held that Deliveroo riders are self-employed and cannot form a collective bargaining unit.
The Independent Workers...
Union claims council ‘secretly’ rewarded staff that did not strike
Birmingham City Council refuse workers are considering whether to go on strike, following allegations that the council “secretly” paid several...
Employers urged to sign charter on domestic violence
Employers are being encouraged to take a more supportive role on domestic violence.
The GMB union is asking employers to...
Campaigners turn to UN to tackle gig economy firms
Taxi and delivery giant Addison Lee is coming under fresh pressure to increase workers’ pay and benefits as campaigners target...
Ryanair sacks stranded cabin crew for ‘breach of trust’
Six Ryanair cabin crew were dismissed by the airline this week for “breach of trust” after a photograph was circulated...
‘Historic’ CDC pensions schemes given green light by DWP
The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a consultation to shape new legislation around collective defined contribution pension schemes,...
