Reform of Trade Union laws - Phase Two

Written By Bianca McCarthy

Implementation date: 6 April 2026

The Employment Rights Act 2025 includes various provisions to reform industrial relations law.

The Government has indicated in Plan to Make Work Pay and Employment Rights Act: timeline update that the trade union recognition process will be simplified on 6 April 2026, by:

  • removing the requirement for majority support at the application stage;

  • removing the 40% support threshold; 

  • providing the Government with the power to reduce the requirement from 10% membership at the application stage to a level not lower than 2%

    (the change being subject to consultation and secondary legislation); and

  • introducing a period of 20 working days to agree union access during a statutory recognition process.

Please also be aware that Phase Three will bring further reforms, due in October 2026.

If you would like some HR guidance or assistance with the Trade union reforms, require a written policy and procedure, please do let us know on: info@sos-hr.co.uk or call 01473 276 170 for further HR advice.

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Bianca McCarthy
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