CIPD Podcast 224: Is HR ready for ‘renaissance’ of union power in industrial relations?
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Nov 11, 2025 Nita Clarke is the Director at the Involvement and Participation Association, bringing expertise from her trade union background. Mustafa Faruqi, an Employee Relations Strategy Director at BT, specializes in union negotiations, while Alistair Paton manages labour relations at Asda. They discuss the UK's shifting industrial relations landscape, emphasizing the significance of the Employment Rights Bill in empowering unions. Practical strategies for building trust with unions and effective employee voice channels are highlighted, alongside the need for renewed negotiation skills in HR.
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Bill Raises Collective And Individual Stakes
- The Employment Rights Bill combines collective and individual rights, creating a complex change landscape for employers.
- Employers must manage both union relationships and expanded individual protections simultaneously.
Legislative Push To Rebalance Power
- The bill aims to rebalance power from employers to employees and trade unions to shift more economic gains to workers.
- Measures like repealing the Trade Union Act are intended to strengthen union leverage in negotiations.
Prepare In Phases Not Panic
- Chunk the changes into phases and prepare systems, guidance and manager training for each phase.
- Use consultations and best-effort assumptions now, then update once final legislation and guidance arrive.