Trade Union action is on the rise in the UK.  There have been many headlines recently about threats of, and actual, strike action.  This level of union unrest hasn’t been seen for over 30 years, so it will be new territory for many managers and HR professionals.  Inexperience and a lack of understanding of the…

What business is not thinking about change right now? Different kinds of work and new ways of doing it abound. It is likely that many existing contractual arrangements are not match fit for the new world. There is a well-trodden path of implementing changes to terms and conditions for 20 or more employees, which as…

We’re often asked by clients whether they can derecognise a trade union, when can it be done and what are the implications of derecognition. Here’s the lowdown: Firstly, what’s important to remember is that a good and healthy trade union relationship can be a real asset to a business. We are great believers in managing…

A healthy trade union relationship is an asset to a business, although navigating the pathway towards achieving it can be complicated. How can organisations work effectively with their trade unions and improve industrial relations throughout the business? Managing expectations When a collective agreement has been drafted in the 60’s or 70’s, its content can often…

Once you have a compliant ballot, and the Union has gone through all the prescribed rules and requirements, you need to build a strategic framework in terms of your response. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits all response. The shape and size of the industrial action and the effect of it will be unique, and it…

As an employer, if you are confident that the strike isn’t compliant and that the trade union haven’t got legal immunity from the strike, there are various options to consider. Chris MacNaughton, Senior Employment Lawyer and Head of Industrial Relations at Vista talks us through them.

As we know, industrial relations can enable an organisations progress but also impede it or even block and cause harm. In this video series we run through how best to manage those challenges and mitigate the effects of industrial action. First up, is the ballot legally compliant?

When an employer is confronted with industrial action, it’s fair to say it’s not an enviable position. As we know, industrial relations can enable an organisations progress but also impede it or even block and cause harm. In this blog we run through how best to manage those challenges and mitigate the effects of industrial…