Statutory guidance

Access and unfair practices during the recognition and derecognition process: code of practice

Guidance on access and unfair practices during the statutory procedures for union recognition, derecognition and changes to the bargaining unit.

• From: Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Kate Dearden MP and The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP
• Published: 30 October 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Access and unfair practices during the recognition and derecognition process: code of practice

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6690-9, E03638343

PDF, 558 KB, 46 pages

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Details

This code provides statutory guidance on access and unfair practices during the trade union recognition and derecognition processes, as well as changes to the bargaining unit.

It covers:

• a union’s right to request access to workers from the point when the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) notifies that it has accepted a relevant application
• what access could be considered reasonable and what practical steps both the employer and the union can take
• avoiding unfair practices from the point when the CAC notifies that it has accepted a relevant application