Collective agreements: do they change my contract?
Collective bargaining is how a union negotiates your pay and conditions. The deal can cover you even if you are not a member, but check how it reaches your contract.
Unions & employee voice
Joining a union, recognition, collective bargaining and whistleblowing.
26 guides
What is an employee resource group? UK rights explained
A staff network can help you find allies and challenge unfair treatment. It does not replace a union, a formal consultation process or your own legal rights.
Does my employer have to listen to feedback?
A staff survey gives you no guarantee of being heard. A legal consultation duty is different. Here is how to tell which applies and make your next move.
How can staff be heard without a union?
You do not need a recognised union to have a say at work. Know when your employer must consult, how to choose representatives and what to do if staff are ignored.
Do UK employees still have European works councils?
UK employees cannot demand a new European works council after Brexit. Existing participation can continue, and domestic consultation rights offer a separate way to get information and challenge plans.
Can workers picket during a strike?
You can explain a strike and ask people not to cross your picket line. You cannot block their way. Where you stand matters too.
Are union rights different by sector?
Your sector usually changes how pay is negotiated, not your right to organise. Your employment status and where you work can change the legal protection.
Punished for union activity? Your rights and remedies
A cut rota can be retaliation as surely as a dismissal. Know which claim fits, what evidence to save and when to get your union involved.
When must an employer consult employees?
Consultation must give you a chance to influence a proposal before it is final. Find out when your employer must listen, which consultation periods apply and what to ask for today.
What are the rules on strike ballots?
You do not have to be a union member to join a protected strike. What matters is who called the action, whether it covers your job and whether the legal steps were followed.
What rights do union representatives have?
Your employer cannot punish you for protected union work. Find out what leave and protection you have, then take these first steps to protect your pay and your claim.
What is a trade dispute? The basis for protected action
A row about pay or unsafe work can be a trade dispute. Before you walk out, check what that protects and what it doesn't.