Employment Rights Act 2025 - Trade Unions & Industrial Action Explained

Introduction

The Employment Rights Act 2025 has been heralded as the most significant change to employment law in a generation. It is certainly true that the number of changes is significant and many of them are focused on trade unions. Some notable changes are the repealing of most of the Trade Union Act 2016 and new obligations on employers - such as agreeing rights of access for trade unions and informing employees that they can join a trade union.

Meanwhile, most existing law remains unchanged, such as the definition of a trade union and the definition of independence.

This webinar will work through the law relating to trade unions and industrial action, with a particular focus on what has been changed by the Employment Rights Act 2025 and when the changes are going to take effect.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Trade unions:
• A reminder of the legal definition of a trade union
• The difference between a dependent and independent trade union
• The legal protection for trade union members and representatives
• The new rules relating to trade union recognition
• Industrial action:
• The ‘golden formula’
• The implications of repealing the Trade Union Act 2016, and what the rules for industrial action and balloting are now
• Protection against detriment (as well as dismissal) for taking industrial action
• New rights:
• The right of trade unions to access an employer’s premises
• Requirement to tell employees they can join a trade union
• Right for representatives to be provided with facilities and accommodation
• Strengthening the rules relating to blacklisting

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Thursday 5th March 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 1,900+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.