Trade Unions, Worker Voice, and the Employment Rights Act: What's Actually Changing

Most people think the Employment Rights Act will transform trade union membership. Tom Hayes has been in labour relations for fifty years. He's not so sure and his reasons are worth listening to. In this episode of Across the Table, host Joe Perry is joined by Tom Hayes - labour relations consultant, co-author of Respect, and founder of the Brussels European Employer Relations Group - to take an unflinching look at where trade unions actually stand, what the new legislation will and won't change, and what worker voice might need to look like in the future. From union density in France to the Springsteen line about a union card and a wedding coat, Tom brings five decades of experience to one of the most contested questions in employment relations: are trade unions in structural decline, and if so, what comes next? Drawing on his work with European Works Councils, multinational employers, and both sides of the table, Tom shares his views on: why collective bargaining leverage depends on membership, not legislation how the sociological foundations of the union movement have shifted and aren't coming back why formal recognition doesn't automatically give unions bargaining power what worker voice could look like beyond the traditional membership model and what employers should be doing right now to prepare before they're caught cold This is a candid, experienced, occasionally provocative conversation about power, democracy, and the future of work. Chapters [00:25] Introduction to Tom Hayes, trade unions and their relevance [03:03] Current state of trade union membership [05:53] Challenges facing trade unions [08:48] The role of collective bargaining [11:24] The evolution of trade unions [14:02] The future of employee voice [16:51] Workplace democracy and union participation [19:39] The disconnect between unions and membership [22:06] The need for new approaches [24:42] Planning for the future of work [27:23] Conclusion and practical advice Where to find Tom Hayes LinkedIn:   / tom-hayes-01637320   Book: https://thascs.com/respect Website: https://thascs.com/respect Host: Joe Perry LinkedIn:   / joseph-perry-45ab1127   Newsletter: https://joecollectiveer.substack.com Website: https://CollaboratER.org About the show Across the Table is about the conversations that shape work and the people who have them. Thoughtful, grounded talks about how work actually works. For sponsorship enquiries email: [mailto:podcast@collaborater.org](mailto:podcast@collaborater.org)