Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

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.


    • Fire and rehire
    • Employee relations
    • Dispute resolution

    Weetabix workers double strike days in ‘fire and rehire’ row

    by Jo Faragher 8 Nov 2021
    by Jo Faragher 8 Nov 2021

    Workers at Weetabix factories in Kettering and Corby will step up strike action this week in an ongoing row over...

    • Latest News
    • Gig economy
    • Employment contracts

    Number of gig economy workers triples over past five years

    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Nov 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Nov 2021

    14.7% told researchers they worked for a gig economy platform at least once a week, compared with 5.8% in 2016.

    • Employee relations
    • Education
    • Latest News

    University staff vote in favour of strike action over pension cuts

    by Jo Faragher 5 Nov 2021
    by Jo Faragher 5 Nov 2021

    Academics at 37 universities have voted in favour of continued strike action against pension cuts.
    University and College Union (UCU)...

    • Collective bargaining
    • Latest News
    • Employment contracts

    Collective bargaining: Union wins ‘unlawful inducements’ case at Supreme Court

    by Rob Moss 27 Oct 2021
    by Rob Moss 27 Oct 2021

    Unite has won a case at the Supreme Court on whether an employer can offer inducements to staff that ‘bypass’...

    • Fire and rehire
    • Latest News
    • Information & consultation

    MPs block ‘fire and rehire’ Bill

    by Ashleigh Webber 22 Oct 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 22 Oct 2021

    MPs have blocked the ‘fire and rehire’ Bill that would have prevented companies from dismissing staff and re-engaging them on...

    • Fire and rehire
    • Dispute resolution
    • Employee communications

    What’s next for the ‘fire and rehire’ Bill?

    by Jo Faragher 21 Oct 2021
    by Jo Faragher 21 Oct 2021

    With a Private Members' Bill being debated in parliament, can we expect a more consultative approach from employers on introducing new workforce contracts? 

    • Dispute resolution
    • Latest News
    • Trade unions

    Work with us on pension reforms, universities tell union

    by Ashleigh Webber 13 Oct 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 13 Oct 2021

    Universities have urged union representatives to work with them on pension scheme reforms, which have been the subject of a...

    • Financial services
    • Latest News
    • Information & consultation

    Staff at Financial Conduct Authority clamour to join union

    by Jo Faragher 13 Oct 2021
    by Jo Faragher 13 Oct 2021

    An ‘unprecedented’ number of employees at the Financial Conduct Authority are seeking union recognition, according to the Unite union.
    The...

    • Latest News
    • Gig economy
    • Employment contracts

    Bounds Taxis drivers are workers, tribunal finds

    by Ashleigh Webber 22 Sep 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 22 Sep 2021

    Drivers at a Northampton-based taxi firm who were required to wear uniforms, drive branded cars and log on to an...

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Education

    Union threatens strike over cut to pensions

    by Ashleigh Webber 22 Sep 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 22 Sep 2021

    University employees could strike in a long-running dispute over spiralling workloads, pay cuts and claims the value of guaranteed pensions...

    • Employee relations
    • Dispute resolution
    • Latest News

    Yodel drivers vote to strike

    by Jo Faragher 17 Sep 2021
    by Jo Faragher 17 Sep 2021

    Deliveries for the likes of Marks & Spencer, Aldi and Very under threat after ballot.

    • Zero hours
    • Latest News
    • Employment contracts

    Labour proposes day-one unfair dismissal protection

    by Ashleigh Webber 14 Sep 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 14 Sep 2021

    A Labour government would give all workers protections against unfair dismissal from their first day in employment, Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

    • Environment
    • Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
    • Latest News

    TUC: Green jobs opportunity at risk without the right infrastructure

    by Jo Faragher 13 Sep 2021
    by Jo Faragher 13 Sep 2021

    The promised “green jobs” boost might never happen if the UK fails to meet its carbon reduction targets, the TUC...

    • Coronavirus
    • Zero hours
    • Latest News

    TUC calls for government action on pandemic ‘class divide’

    by Jo Faragher 9 Sep 2021
    by Jo Faragher 9 Sep 2021

    The TUC has called for an urgent “economic reset” after its research confirmed that low-paid workers bore the brunt of...

    • Fire and rehire
    • Manufacturing
    • Latest News

    Weetabix workers to strike two days every week in ‘fire and rehire’ dispute

    by Rob Moss 8 Sep 2021
    by Rob Moss 8 Sep 2021

    Engineers employed at Weetabix factories are set to begin a series of two-day strikes this month in a dispute over...

Newer Posts
Older Posts

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+