Services

Employment

Trade union law

Unions are taking a number of measures to increase their influence. These include mergers to create super-unions such as Unite, union leadership adopting a partnership style with employers, or, at the other end of the scale, adopting a confrontational approach, resulting in increased strike activity.

With over 6.5m union members in the UK, and super-union influence increasing, when relationships break down, employers count the cost in terms of disruption, financial loss and customer unhappiness. Against a background of complex trade union legislation, both private and public sector employers are having to pay more attention to union activity than they have done for decades.

'Switched on' employers and unions are increasingly adopting a partnership approach to employee relations, with the days of 'management propose - union oppose' long gone. Reflecting this trend, we work with clients to achieve win-win-win situations for employers, unions and employees/members alike. The team have advised on a range of issues, including:

• claims for union recognition
• the content of collective agreements and their incorporation into contracts
• collective bargaining
• election of employee representatives
• collective consultation in redundancy, business re-organisation and TUPE situations
• dealing with industrial action, including balloting, picketing and contingency measures

We are also able to provide arbitration and mediation services as well as training and coaching in effective negotiation.

featured news

Legal Services

secondary services

main contact(s)

Makbool Javaid profile image
Makbool Javaid
Partner

View team members »