3 min read
Union access rights still start on 30 October. The notification duty has moved.
Sue Bancroft · Director, Evida
Quick update, because the Government has moved the goalposts on one of the trade union changes.
The new duty to tell your staff they have the right to join a union was due on 30 October.
It's now expected in January 2027, although the exact date hasn't been confirmed yet.
The good news is that we now know how it will work, and it's a lot simpler than many of us feared.
The government will write the statement for you, and you just add your own workplace details, like any unions you recognise.
New starters get it with their contract paperwork. Existing staff need to have it by 5 April 2027, and then either get it again each year or be reminded annually where to find it on your intranet. So there's nothing to do just yet except think about how it will slot into your onboarding and when you'll reach your existing team.
The one that hasn't moved is the new right for trade unions to request access to your workplace, and that's still landing on 30 October. It applies whether or not you have any union members at all. If you employ 21 or more people, a union can ask to come in, physically or digitally, to talk to your staff. Once a request lands you have 15 working days to respond, and the timescales from there are tight. If you can't reach an agreement, the Central Arbitration Committee can step in and set the terms for you. Get it wrong later on and the fines can run into six figures, so it's worth taking seriously.
Our advice is to use the next few weeks wisely. Make sure your leadership team knows access requests are coming, agree who'll handle one if it arrives, and have someone you can call for advice. Sort October first, and January will feel pretty straightforward by comparison.
If you'd like a chat about what this means for your business, get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
When does the duty to tell staff about their right to join a union start?
It was due on 30 October 2026 but is now expected in January 2027. The exact date has not been confirmed.
What will the union notification statement have to say?
The government will write the statement for you. You add your own workplace details, such as any unions you recognise.
When do existing staff need to receive it?
Existing staff need to have it by 5 April 2027, and then either receive it again each year or be reminded annually where to find it on your intranet. New starters get it with their contract paperwork.
Has the trade union right of access been delayed too?
No. The right for trade unions to request access to your workplace still starts on 30 October 2026.
Does union access apply if we have no union members?
Yes. It applies whether or not you have any union members at all. If you employ 21 or more people, a union can ask to come in, physically or digitally, to talk to your staff.
How long do we have to respond to a union access request?
15 working days from receipt. The timescales after that are tight. If you cannot reach an agreement, the Central Arbitration Committee can step in and set the terms for you, and fines for getting it wrong can run into six figures.
For the full detail on how union access requests work, read our guide to the trade union changes.
- Employment Rights Act 2025
- Trade unions
- Employment law
- Compliance