If your business faces industrial action
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 can hire workers from a recruitment agency to provide cover during a strike. They must have the right skills, experience or qualifications.
Recruitment agencies are not required to supply agency workers to cover strikes. Workers can choose to turn down a job.
Agency staff who are already in place as part of normal business can carry on as usual.
Devolved Welsh Authorities cannot hire agency workers to cover someone taking part in official industrial action.