If your business faces industrial action

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Non-union employees and strikes

You can ask non-union employees to cover work during a strike, as long as:

  • this is allowed by their employment contracts
  • you do not discriminate against any employee directly or indirectly

Non-union staff and striking

If non-union members go on strike, they are protected from dismissal and have the same rights as union members, as long as the industrial action is lawful.

Agency staff

You cannot hire agency staff to provide temporary work cover during a strike.

Agency staff who are already in place as part of normal business can carry on as usual.