Union Rights & Recognition in Your Workplace- The Good Jobs Bill

Townhall Meeting
12pm – Wednesday 3^rd December
Glenavon House Hotel, Cookstown

Wide ranging changes which will fundamentally alter the world of work are being prepared by the Department for the Economy with new legislation planned to be presented to the Assembly by the Economy Minister in the New Year.

The Good Jobs and Employment Rights Bill and other legislative tools could establish new law and rules on:

• Terms of Employment
• Pay and Benefits
• Voice and Representation (including beefed up Union rights)
• Work Life Balance

The way forward/plan is summarised here:

https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-05/The%20Good%20Jobs%20Employment%20Rights%20Bill%20-%20The%20Way%20Forward%20-%20Final%2022.5.25.pdf

Most, as good employers, already operate many of the proposal and will welcome these being put into law.  However, as manufacturers are becoming increasingly aware of this legislation, many are expressing concerns around the Voice and Representation plans, the summary of which is:

• To make Unions more accessible for workers by reducing barriers to union recognition.
• Unions will have the right to request access directly into a workplace (for instance, the production floor or the canteen), including digital access (internal email systems, screens), to recruit membership where it does not currently exist.
• Union recognition will be reduced from 21 to 10 workers.
• Supporting moves towards collective bargaining (across industries, job roles) with the unions on wages, conditions etc.
• To permit e-balloting systems as an alternative to postal ballot.
• Reduce the percentage of employees from 10% to 2% required to make a request for an ICE agreement (to be informed about the business’s economic situation and about decisions likely to lead to changes in work organisation or contractual relations) and reduce the minimum number of employees required from 15 to 10.

It is vitally important that manufacturers have sight of and understand what changes may be coming and potentially prepare for all these changes.

We are very pleased that the Economy Minister has agreed to attend and introduce in person this legislation to our manufacturing community and to stay and listen to contributions from employers.

Therefore, being represented at this event in important.

Lunch will be provided.