Union Tactics: An Essential Guide for Employers
A practical toolkit for employers navigating the new union landscape.
Description
CPD accredited training course - 8 points
Navigate the new industrial relations landscape with confidence
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is now officially law, bringing the most significant overhaul of trade union rights in decades. With sweeping changes to strike mandates, statutory sick pay, and the union recognition process already taking effect this April, the landscape of British industrial relations is undergoing a fundamental shift. Recognition thresholds are dropping to as low as 2%, unions have gained formal workplace access rights, and ballot requirements are being relaxed. Trade unions are professionalising fast – investing in forensic accounting, media strategy, and advanced negotiation tactics.
This intensive one-day roadshow will equip senior HR professionals, and employee and industrial relations specialists, with practical frameworks to handle today's union environment.
What you'll take away:
- Understand the new legal obligations.
- Recognise and counter sophisticated pressure tactics.
- Practice high-stakes negotiation scenarios in a safe environment.
- Proven frameworks for hostile negotiations.
- How to maintain professional relationships whilst protecting your organisation's interests.
- Confidential peer insights under Chatham House Rule.
Why attend now: One poorly handled recognition process or negotiation could cost your organisation significantly more than this training – in direct costs, productivity loss, and reputational damage. With implementation beginning throughout 2026, organisations that prepare now will have a decisive advantage.
Agenda
- Current political and economic drivers of union militancy
- Employment Rights Bill impact: recognition thresholds, workplace access, strike procedures
- Why traditional collaborative approaches no longer work
- Intelligence briefing: How unions are training their representatives
Key Takeaways:
- Union investment in forensic accounting, media strategy, and communication training
- Economic pressures driving aggressive membership retention strategies
- Government support emboldening union positions
- Recognition Agreements: Statutory vs voluntary recognition, derecognition procedres
- Collective Bargaining Scope: Mandatory, permissive, and prohibited subjects
- TUPE and Union Rights: Automatic transfer, collective agreements, ETO defences
- Strike Law Essentials: Balloting requirements, notice periods, injunction grounds
- Information and Consultation: Statutory timelines, relevance challenges
Interactive Element: Legal scenario analysis with Q&A
Facilitated peer discussion under Chatham House Rule
Confidential forum for sharing specific challenges, recent experiences, and organisational concerns with fellow practitioners
Pressure Tactics Workshop:
- Information Warfare: Overwhelming requests, FOI fishing expeditions
- Deadline Manufacturing: Artificial urgency, threat escalation
- Emotional Manipulation: Personal attacks, walkouts, aggressive language
- Media Campaigns: Press releases, social media pressure, customer targeting
- Workplace Disruption: Demonstrations, solidarity actions, membership mobilisation
Professional Response Framework:
- Maintaining emotional detachment under pressure
- Documentation standards for potential disputes
- Communication protocols and de-escalation techniques
- Team coordination during adversarial negotiations
Preparation Essentials:
- Pre-negotiation intelligence gathering
- BATNA development and walk-away points
- Cost modelling for all scenarios
- Mandate boundaries and authority limits
Tactical Approaches:
- Principled negotiation under pressure
- Structured counter-proposal frameworks
- Precedent recognition and protection
- Concession psychology and anchoring awareness
Scenario: Union demands 15% pay rise with immediate strike threat during peak season
Participants Experience:
- Aggressive opening tactics and personal criticism
- Artificial deadline pressure and media threats
- Emotional appeals and membership pressure
- Financial data challenges and precedent creation attempts
Skills Practised:
- Emotional regulation techniques
- Professional boundary maintenance
- Tactical recognition and response
- Structured negotiation process adherence
Facilitated under Chatham House Rule:
- Confidential sharing of specific organisational challenges
- Peer consultation on current negotiations
- Individual action planning templates
- Post-training resources and ongoing support
- Emergency escalation procedures
- Success metrics and evaluation criteria
Learning Outcomes
• Master the legal framework governing union negotiations in the post-Employment Rights Bill environment
• Recognise and counter sophisticated union tactics while maintaining professional standards
• Develop robust negotiation strategies for pay, TUPE, terms & conditions, and recognition disputes
• Build emotional resilience for high-pressure negotiation scenarios
What our delegates say
"The case studies and hands-on activities were incredibly valuable. I feel much more confident in handling union negotiations now."
"A must-attend for anyone dealing with unions. The insights and techniques shared are game-changers."
"I couldn't believe how useful the conflict resolution strategies were. The session gave me the tools to handle disputes in a calm and constructive way, and it's already making a big difference in our union relations."
Who the Course is For
This training is ideal for HR Directors, Senior HR Managers, Employee Relations Specialists, and Industrial Relations Specialists.
FAQs
What does BFI specialise in?
BFI provides expert-led training in HR compliance, employment law, immigration for employers, union relations, workplace inclusion, and AI and talent solutions.
Who typically attends your courses?
Attendees include HR managers, legal teams, compliance officers, operations leaders, and public sector employers.
Are your trainers practitioners?
Yes. All trainers are experienced specialists; we feature practitioners from the public and private sectors as well as lawyers, policy advisers, former regulators, and consultants.
How do I book a course?
Choose an event on the website and click Register. You can pay online with a credit card or request an invoice.
Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes. Public and private-sector organisations may use PO numbers. These can be added during the registration process, or can be retrospectively added to am invoice if the place has been booked already.
We need to set you up as a Supplier, can you complete a form or send me over your company information?
Yes, we can do either; please contact us via info@bfi.co.uk
Can I get a PO number added to our invoice?
Yes, please send details through to info@bfi.co.uk or reply to us using your confirmation email
Do you offer group discounts?
Yes. Discounts for multiple bookings are automatically applied at checkout. For groups of over ten, it may be more cost-effective to run the course in-house. Call 01983 861133 for details
Can I transfer my place to another date or colleague?
Yes. Substitutions are free, and transfers are typically allowed within a set timeframe.
What is your cancellation policy?
BFI follows standard UK training-industry cancellation terms.
How are online courses delivered?
Training is delivered live via Zoom with interactive Q\&A and case-based discussion.
Will I receive slides and supporting materials?
Yes. Attendees receive slides, templates (where relevant), and many other useful documents and links.
Will I receive a copy of the event recording?
Our monthly subscription and webinar clients receive recordings of the live sessions; otherwise we do not record our courses to encourage confidential discussion and questions under the Chatham House Rule
What time zone are online events delivered in?
All events are delivered in UTC / London time unless otherwise stated
What is included in in-person events?
Full-day training includes refreshments, full documentation which is emailed prior to the event and networking opportunities.
Are your venues accessible?
Yes. All venues are fully accessible.
Are your courses CPD-certified?
Many courses are accredited by The CPD Certification Service.
Can I ask questions about my organisation’s situation?
Yes. Trainers answer questions during the session and can respond afterward.
Will the training help us prepare for an audit?
Yes, on our audit courses you will learn what triggers visits, what officers look for, and how to evidence compliance.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. All attendees receive a digital certificate of course completion.
Do you offer private or in-house training?
Yes. All courses can be tailored for your team. Visit https://bfi.co.uk/team-training/
Do you offer consultancy?
Yes. BFI offers policy reviews, audit preparation, HR compliance support, and workforce advisory services.