Whether you have never dealt with unions before, have forged a good working relationship or actively love to hate them, for many HR practitioners, dealing with unions is likely to become part of your job. In this podcast Croner discuss what HR professionals need to be aware of given possible union activity in the coming months.
Industry leaders are predicting a sharp rise in union activity this winter following the government’s plans for widespread cuts over the coming months. In preparation for potential industrial action, HR professionals must therefore ensure they fully understand the current legal position and the rights of those involved.
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While current legislation states that it is unlawful to induce people to break or interfere with the performance of a contract, trade unions have certain rights, which mean that they can take industrial action, including calling for strikes, without the fear of being sued.
It is crucial that employers are aware of the scope of these rights and can recognise what constitutes lawful and unlawful industrial action, including the importance of the secret ballot process clearly showing the support of the union’s members.
If industrial action is illegal, HR professionals need to know what action they can take and when, including injunctions, withholding pay and dismissal of employees. However, they must be wary when taking such action as in some cases it could be deemed inappropriate and cause more problems than it solves in the long run.
Croner, a Wolters Kluwer business, is the UK’s leading provider of workplace information, software and services.
