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Trade Union Recognition: Ballots

Asked by Justin MaddersLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 26 February 2026UIN 113144

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to introduce consultation on the reduction of membership threshold from 10% for statutory union recognition ballots.

Answered by Kate Dearden

The Government will implement in April the power in the Employment Rights Act that enables Ministers to issue secondary legislation to vary the 10% recognition application threshold, within parameters of 10% to 2% membership of the bargaining unit.

We intend to consult on varying the threshold later this year.

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