Industrial relations reforms are going to radically reshape the framework for collective and trade union rights in the UK. Our new resource hub brings together practical guidance, insights and tools to help employers prepare.
While the spotlight on the Employment Rights Act 2025 has largely been on unfair dismissal, the reforms to collective and trade union rights have received far less attention—despite being just as significant. They will affect all major restructuring and change programmes and may lead to new recognition requests, wider workplace access and increased collective activity, fundamentally reshaping how employers engage with their workforce.
A busy period of change
The first wave of changes relaxing the conditions for industrial action is already in force. Simplified union recognition rules will follow on 6 April, with new rights of union access and statements of union rights coming into effect from October 2026.
