Am I entitled to redundancy pay?

You are entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you have worked for your employer for at least 2 continuous years. The amount depends on your age, length of service and weekly pay, capped at £751 per week.

What is unfair dismissal?

Unfair dismissal occurs when your employer dismisses you without a fair reason or without following a fair procedure. You need 2 years of service to claim, reducing to 6 months from January 2027.

When is statutory sick pay paid?

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is now paid from Day 1 of illness following the Employment Rights Act 2025. The current rate is £123.25 per week for up to 28 weeks.

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2. AI can make mistakes

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✊ Trade Unions Guide

Trade Union Rights: What You Can and Can't Do at Work in 2026

Thinking of joining a union, taking industrial action, or facing detriment for union activity? This guide explains your legal rights around trade union membership, recognition, collective bargaining and strike action.

✅ Last verified: July 2026📚 Sources: GOV.UK, ACAS, TULRCA 1992, Employment Rights Act 2025🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Applies to England, Wales & Scotland

⚖ Know Your Rights at a Glance

Right to join a union: Every worker has the right to join a trade union. Your employer cannot prevent this or treat you worse for being a member.
Automatic unfair dismissal: Dismissing someone for trade union membership, activities or collective bargaining is automatically unfair — from day one, no qualifying period.
Strike action protection: Taking part in officially authorised industrial action is protected under the Employment Rights Act 2025 — this protection now applies indefinitely (previously 12 weeks).
Union recognition: Unions can apply for statutory recognition where the employer refuses voluntary recognition and the workforce is 10+ workers.
Time off for union duties: Recognised union representatives are entitled to reasonable paid time off for union duties and unpaid time off for union activities.
Detriment for union activity is unlawful — being excluded, demoted, given worse shifts or denied promotion because of union membership or activities is actionable.

⏰ Time limits apply to detriment and dismissal claims

Claims for detriment or dismissal connected to trade union membership must be brought within 3 months less one day of the act (changing to 6 months from 1 October 2026). Contact ACAS first.

🆕 Strike action protection now indefinite under ERA 2025

The Employment Rights Act 2025 removed the previous 12-week limit on protection from dismissal during official industrial action. From February 2026, employees participating in authorised strike action have protection for the duration of the action, with no time cap. Unofficial action remains unprotected.

The right to join a trade union

Every worker in Great Britain has the statutory right to be a member of a trade union of their choice. Your employer cannot:

Prevent you from joining a union
Discipline or dismiss you for being a member
Offer you inducements not to join ("sweetheart deals")
Treat you worse than colleagues because of your membership

There is no qualifying period — this protection applies from your first day of work.

Industrial action and strikes

To be protected when taking industrial action, the action must be:

Officially authorised by your union following a properly conducted ballot
In contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute (a dispute between workers and employers about employment matters)

If these conditions are met, you cannot be dismissed for taking part in the action, with protection now applying for the full duration of the action under ERA 2025. Unofficial action (not authorised by your union) does not have the same protection.

You are also entitled to picket peacefully at your own workplace — but only your own workplace, with reasonable numbers, and for the purpose of peacefully communicating information.

Union recognition and collective bargaining

If your employer voluntarily recognises a union, the union can negotiate pay, hours and holidays on your behalf. If your employer refuses, a union can apply for statutory recognition through the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) where:

The employer has 10 or more workers
The union has majority support in the bargaining unit
At least 10% of the bargaining unit are union members

Join a union relevant to your sector

Find a union via TUC's union finder at tuc.org.uk. Membership gives access to legal advice, representation in disciplinary hearings and collective bargaining.

Tell your union rep if you face detriment

If you've suffered because of union membership or activity, tell your rep immediately. They can advise and represent you.

Document everything

Keep records of any adverse treatment — missed promotions, disciplinary action, schedule changes — and note whether it started or worsened after you joined or became active in a union.

Contact ACAS

ACAS can advise on trade union rights and, if needed, provide early conciliation before a tribunal claim.

Bring a tribunal claim if needed

Detriment and automatically unfair dismissal claims can be brought at employment tribunal after ACAS conciliation. No fees for individuals. Compensation for automatically unfair dismissal is uncapped.

✊ Check Your Trade Union Rights

Describe your situation with your union or employer and get personalised guidance on your rights.

Use the Free Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Can my employer sack me for going on strike?

Not if the action is officially authorised by your union. Dismissing you for taking part in protected industrial action is automatically unfair under ERA 2025, with no qualifying period and the protection now lasting for the full duration of the action.

My employer is threatening to give us all "individual contracts" if we don't leave the union. Is that legal?

No. Offering incentives to leave a union or give up collective bargaining rights is unlawful under TULRCA 1992. Workers can bring claims for unlawful inducements.

I want to be a union rep. Do I get time off for union work?

Yes. Recognised union representatives are entitled to reasonable paid time off for union duties (such as negotiating, consulting, or representing members in hearings) and unpaid time off for union activities (attending meetings, conferences). The exact amount is what's reasonable in the circumstances.

Our employer refuses to recognise our union. What can we do?

If your employer has 10+ workers, the union has sufficient membership, and voluntary recognition has been refused, the union can apply to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) for statutory recognition.

I was disciplined after my employer found out I'd joined a union. Can I claim?

Yes — subjecting a worker to detriment because of trade union membership is unlawful. You can bring a claim at employment tribunal. No qualifying period applies.

Can my employer check if I'm in a union?

Your employer cannot lawfully penalise you for union membership. In practice they may know, but using that information to treat you less favourably is unlawful.

Does the union have to represent me?

Unions have a duty to represent members fairly and not arbitrarily. However, they have some discretion in how they allocate resources and may not take every case to tribunal if they assess it has little merit.

📞 Free help and support

ACAS: 0300 123 1100 — advice on trade union rights

TUC: tuc.org.uk — find a union and guidance on collective rights

Citizens Advice: 0800 144 8848 — free employment advice

Central Arbitration Committee (CAC): cac.gov.uk — statutory recognition applications

⚠ Important disclaimer: This guide covers trade union law in England, Wales and Scotland as at July 2026. This guide provides general legal information only and is not legal advice. Laws change — always verify current rules with ACAS, GOV.UK or Citizens Advice before acting. ukworkrights.co.uk — Free UK Legal Rights Guidance. Not a law firm.