Final Code Of Practice On New Union Right To Access Workplaces Published, Ready For 30 October Commencement

The ERA 2025 will give independent trade unions a new right to request access to an employer's workplaces to meet, recruit, support, represent, organise, or facilitate collective bargaining for workers (but not to organise industrial action), without needing to show any minimum level of support or membership (and provided the employer and its associated employers together have at least 21 workers in aggregate across their workplaces). Where a union and employer have failed to reach an access agreement on a voluntary basis, a legislative framework will provide for a statutory request and negotiation period and, if not agreed, for the union to apply to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) for an order for access.