Don’t have at trade union at your workplace? Want the support that a trade union organisation can offer? New rights have just come into force that could tip the scales in your favour.

As of 30 October, independent trade unions now have the right to access workplaces and to communicate with workers digitally to meet, support, represent, organise and recruit workers, whether or not there are existing members in the workplace, and to facilitate collective bargaining.

It means that unions can now request and negotiate access agreements with employers, with time limits. If employers do not respond or if it’s not possible to agree an access agreement, the union or employer can apply to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) to decide on access.

Small employers with fewer than 21 workers are excluded but can opt in, and having 21 or 21+ workers across multiple sites cumulatively triggers the access rights.

There are other new rights too, for trade union representatives, on union recognition, stronger protections for workers when participating in industrial action, and a new employer duty to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment at work.

So, if you’ve thought about joining or organising a union, now could be the time. Find out more about these new rights, or see which union you could join:

New rights: https://www.tuc.org.uk/resource/your-guide-new-employment-rights-2026

Union finder: https://www.tuc.org.uk/join-a-union

A landmark event on Saturday 3 October will see the official launch of the Hounslow Women’s Network at Holy Trinity Church, Hounslow (TW3 1HG) from 9:30-2pm.

It will bring together women and girls from across Hounslow with keynote speakers, local leaders, businesses and community organisations to support the economic prosperity, wellbeing, and safety of women in Hounslow.

There will also be some great entertainment and stalls with local groups and opportunities to get more involved. Tickets can be booked here, but don’t delay as it looks set to be a very popular and timely event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hounslow-womens-network-launch-conference-tickets-1992559964492?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hounslow Trades Council welcomes the launch of this new network. As trade unionists, we know how important it is for women to have a voice, to support one another and to have a safe space where ideas, experiences and concerns can be shared.

In a message to the organisers, we said: “We wish you a successful launch and every success for the future. We look forward to
standing alongside you and supporting the network as it grows”.

When women come together, it can build confidence, create connections and support positive change in our workplaces and communities. We are proud to support the launch of the Hounslow Women’s Network and look forward to seeing it grow into a strong, welcoming and supportive network for women across Hounslow.

Over the summer, bus drivers in Unite the Union have been campaigning and striking over excessive heat and driver fatigue. 

The union’s Fight Fatigue Now roadshow called by at Fulwell bus garage in Twickenham at the end of July. One month later over 1,500 Arriva North London members voted to renew strike action, after deciding that an offer from the company did not go far enough to solve the problems of hot weather working.

Most buses operated by Arriva North London have air cooling systems rather than more effective air conditioning, the union pointed out. Temperatures of up to 40 degrees put drivers at increased danger of fatigue and led some to suffer health problems including heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration.

Meanwhile, Unite’s Fight Fatigue campaign called on employers to: 

Introduce fatigue management into Transport for London buses (for example, stop disciplining drivers for fatigue) and agreements for drivers who currently have to drive the bus in heatwaves with no air-con.

Establish consistency across scheduling and rosters, such as a minimum of 12 hour breaks between duties and consistent start times to combat fatigue.

Improve rest, toilet and welfare facilities. A poll of Unite members found that 52% of London bus drivers had poor facilities at work, yet some drivers still have breaks by the side of the road.

If you have your own experience of trying to improve poor working conditions, whatever industry you are in, Hounslow Trades Council would like to hear about it. 

Tuesday 21 July 7:30pm at Hounslow United Reformed Church hall

Nearly one million young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are not in education, employment or training: it’s a “moral crisis”, as a new government report puts it. 

“Every month a young person spends detached from education or work adds cost. Cost to them, above all else. To their confidence. Their health. Cost to their future income”. 

Discussion at Hounslow Trades Council’s July meeting, led by:

• Matthew Boyd, GMB union: Matt has played a central role in GMB London Young Workers, campaigning with other members on issues like the Living Wage (which has been promoting higher minimum pay levels for 25 years). 
• Taz Virdee, C-Change West London: Taz is a seasoned community leader working to support and encourage young people (CCWL, which is based in Cranford, pays the young people it employs at least the London Living Wage).

We meet ‘in-person’ for delegates and visitors, with a Teams link available on request: secretary@hounslowtradescouncil.org

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak has called for a “national mission” to remove asbestos from the UK’s workplaces. We need a fully funded, government-led programme to remove asbestos ‘from every school and every hospital’.

Nowak said “We have to be honest about the scale of the challenge we face. And none is bigger than asbestos. It remains the biggest occupational killer in Britain. And we have the highest rate of asbestos cancers in the world”. 

https://www.lrd.org.uk/news/tuc-calls-mission-eradicate-asbestos

Join our solidarity walk and social, hear what happened here 100 years ago, and enjoy some Anglo-Irish indie folk with The Publicans.

Minimum wages have gone up by slightly more than the recent level of pay settlements, but the new rates are still below the “real” Living Wage. Both of these are pay ‘floors’ and trade unions aim to secure higher wages wherever they can.

From 1 April the statutory minimum rate for workers aged 21 and over (confusingly called the ‘National Living Wage’) went up by 50p to £12.71 per hour, an increase of just over 4%.

The rate for workers aged 18-20 went up by 85p to £10.85 per hour. Under-18s and certain apprentices must now be paid a minimum of £8 per hour, up by 45p.

Self-employed people and those in some specific roles may not be covered by these statutory minimum rates (see https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage/who-gets-the-minimum-wage).

If workers aren’t getting the pay they think they are entitled to, their union should be able to help, and it’s another good reason why non-members should join. Hounslow Citizens Advice may also be able to help (see https://hounslowcabs.org.uk).

Many employers agree to pay a higher minimum rate known as the “real” Living Wage. It is set by the Living Wage Foundation, and London employers who follow its rates should already be paying at least £14.80 per hour (see https://www.livingwage.org.uk/news/national-living-wage-rise-welcomed-millions-still-short-real-living-wage).

Unions have been winning pay rises worth around 3.8% in the middle of the range this year, according to the union-based Labour Research Department (LRD). At that level, settlements would have beaten recent increases in the cost of living, but employers warn that food inflation ‘could hit 9%’ thanks to the war against Iran.

Some recent pay settlements have been worth much more than 3.8%. Over 130 cabin crew at Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) secured an 8% pay rise, backdated to November 2025, after strike action over Christmas. Their 14-month deal included higher incremental increases for longer service (https://www.lrd.org.uk/news/payline-release-march-2026).

Hounslow Trades Council would like to hear from local trade unions about their pay negotiations, settlements and pay campaigns. Please email any information you can share to secretary@hounslowtradescouncil.org

Townsend Theatre Productions are planning to tour their musical production of ‘FAREWELL LEICESTER SQUARE’ in spring 2027 celebrating the amazing life of Joe Clough, Britain’s first black bus driver. They are crowdfunding to help make that happen. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/farewell-leicester-square-by-neil-gore

AI is making inroads into so many areas of our lives and work, union organisation and collective bargaining have a vital role to play,

On Wednesday 11 March the TUC is offering an all-day forum at its Congress House headquarters in London to discuss collective bargaining on AI. This event is primarily designed for union reps and full-time officers who are already engaging with AI as an industrial issue and are looking to organise and negotiate with employers on this topic. You can sign up for the event here: https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/collective-bargaining-ai-forum

If this event is not for you, there are plenty of other union resources on AI. Unison members, for example, can sign up to a day-time on-line course on Thursday 16 April, aimed at individuals who are new to AI or looking to enhance their efficiency. Members can sign up here: https://learning.unison.org.uk/events/an-introduction-to-ai-artificial-intelligence/

If you are a union rep, organiser or activist in the Hounslow area, do you have experience in dealing with AI that you’d be willing to share? We’ll put this on the agenda at one of our evening meetings later this year. They are held on the third Tuesday of every month (except August and December) at Hounslow United Reformed Church (see our events page).

Local events planned

For 9 days in May 1926 normal life was thrown into a crisis as trade union members rallied to the TUC call to stand with the coal miners against wage cuts.

In Hounslow, transport, engineering and building workers came out on strike. Action was coordinated through the Hounslow Central Strike Committee, and actively supported by the Labour Party and others.

Opposing the strike were Conservative politicians – not least local MPs including William Joynson-Hicks (the Home Secretary) and his supporters – and by Volunteers trying to do the work of strikers as the wider population looked on.

Hounslow Trades Council is planning to mark the anniversary of the strike in our district on Saturday 9 May. It will be a day to remember the story of what happened here, and to celebrate solidarity.

Put the date in your diaries – Saturday 9 May – more information will be posted here soon.