TUC leader expects wave of union recognition in private sector over coming year

Paul Nowak says ‘hundreds, if not thousands’ of employers could sign access agreements as ‘transformative’ rules come into force

The TUC general secretary, Paul Nowak, is predicting a wave of union recognition deals in the private sector over the next year as “transformative” rules on accessing workplaces come into force.

From Friday, as part of Labour’s Employment Rights Act, unions will have the right to enter workplaces or communicate with staff electronically. From January, employers will be obliged to inform workers of their right to join a union.

“I think it potentially could be transformative,” Nowak said. “This could open up large parts of … the private sector, where unions have been trying to get a foothold but have been hampered partly because of the legal framework.