The Future of Work minister has defended rules covering recognition campaigns, digital access and complaints about unfair practices.
Kate Dearden has advanced a revised statutory code governing trade-union access and conduct during recognition and derecognition campaigns.
The code applies from the point at which the Central Arbitration Committee accepts an application, rather than only during a recognition or derecognition ballot.
It provides 20 working days for access negotiations and 10 further working days for the committee to determine reasonable arrangements if no agreement is reached.
Guidance suggests union access meetings every five working days for at least 45 minutes and includes digital access, privacy and communication. Employers with fewer than 21 workers remain outside the statutory recognition process.
Dearden said the changes were intended to give workers a meaningful opportunity to hear from unions while preserving data-protection and operational safeguards for employers.
The code cleared its committee stage and was subsequently approved by the Commons. It implements parts of the Employment Rights Act rather than creating an unrestricted right for unions to enter any workplace.
