(qlmbusinessnews.com Thurs. 24th Oct, 2024) London, UK —
UK Employment Rights Bill: Extended Strike Periods and Easier Union Recognition
The government is exploring plans to double the length of time workers are allowed to strike under a mandate, according to a newly released consultation document. Currently, when employees vote for industrial action, the mandate remains valid for six months before unions are required to hold another ballot to extend it. However, the proposed changes would extend this mandate to 12 months.
The document suggests that since unions are “highly likely” to win a second ballot, retaining the six-month rule would only increase “administrative costs” for them. Various sectors have witnessed strikes in recent years, with railway staff, doctors, teachers, and train drivers all staging walkouts. Over the past two years, more than 5.7 million working days have been lost to industrial action—the highest figure in over three decades, according to official data.
Ministers argue that extending the strike mandate could foster more cooperative relationships between unions and employers, ultimately reducing the need for industrial disputes.
Another key proposal under consideration is the removal of the requirement that 50% of a workforce must vote for a strike to proceed. Additionally, the government is looking to abolish the rule that, in “important public services” such as the NHS, at least 40% of workers must vote in favour of industrial action.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has expressed her support for the reforms under the Employment Rights Bill, describing the government's policies as an effort to “repeal anti-worker, anti-union laws” and reshape industrial relations in the UK.
However, Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Shadow Business Secretary, has urged the government to reconsider the bill, arguing that it could trigger an “existential crisis” for businesses, comparable to the challenges faced during the pandemic.
The government's analysis estimates that Labour's proposals to enhance workers' rights could cost businesses up to £5bn annually.
The bill also aims to make it easier for unions to gain official recognition from employers. Currently, unions must have at least 10% of a workforce as members before they can apply for recognition, but the new proposals would lower this threshold to just 2%. Additionally, the current rule requiring 40% of the workforce to vote in favour of union recognition would be scrapped.
Trade unions have long argued that companies can easily hire additional staff to dilute union support, making it harder to meet recognition thresholds. A notable case occurred in July when the GMB union narrowly lost a recognition vote at Amazon's Coventry Fulfilment Centre by 28 votes. The union accused Amazon of deliberately inflating its workforce to undermine the vote, a claim the company denied, stating the new hires were part of routine business operations.
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