Trade Union access agreements: what employers need to know (and do now)

In this episode of Employment Talk, our hosts unpack a major change many employers may have missed: the new trade union right of access under the Employment Rights Act 2025. Scheduled to come into force in October 2026, it allows independent trade unions to seek a statutory access agreement so they can meet workers to recruit members, provide representation and support, and facilitate collective bargaining – even where a union isn’t recognised. Listen to the podcast to get the practical steps that employers should take now to stay in control of what “reasonable access” looks like in their organisation.