Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Accepted in Part
Amend Trade Union Act sections to improve recognition ballot complaint and limitation periods.
Recommendation
Given that an expected consequence of the Employment Right Bill may be greater recognition ballot activity within workplaces, it is essential that ministers amend section 27B of Schedule 1A of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 to provide longer than 24 hours for complaints about the conduct of recognition ballots to be heard and addressed. The Government should further commit to reform section 39(2) of Schedule 1A of the same Act to allow the Secretary of State for Business and Trade to significantly shorten the period of limitation covering proposed bargaining unit applications through regulations. The Secretary of State should agree to consult stakeholders on such changes as part of its future consultations on industrial relations reform. We further note that the right of access during statutory recognition ballots should be further supported by the development of (a) relevant access agreement templates and (b) better resourcing to support businesses, especially small businesses, and for enforcement and compliance information support to tackle the risk of non-compliance with the decisions of the Central Arbitration Committee. (Recommendation, Paragraph 67) 38
Government response summary AI-generated
The government is extending the time period for complaints related to an unfair practice during recognition ballots from one to five working days and will consult on a revised Code of Practice. However, it does not explicitly commit to shortening the limitation period for bargaining unit applications or to developing specific access agreement templates and better resourcing for businesses.
Government Response
The government responded to this report on 22 May 2025. No passage in that response could be matched to this recommendation. Read the response document ↗