Meta is finally letting its UK staff join a union — and it could spark a national surge in union membership
Meta will allow Prospect union access to all of its UK employees, and will inform workers of their rights to join a union, ahead of new Employment Rights Act deadline
Meta has struck a deal allowing the Prospect union to approach its UK employees regarding membership opportunities. This comes as new union membership rules under the Employment Rights Act 2025 are set to take effect in October 2026. The move, which will grant Prospect access to Meta's 5,000 UK workers, aims to bolster union membership that has been declining steadily since 1995, when 28.8% of employed individuals were union members.
In 2025, this figure dropped to a record low of 19.9%. The reforms introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025 include enhanced protections for union representatives and greater access for unions to workplaces. Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, praised Meta for proactively engaging with the union rather than waiting for the new Right of Access to take effect.
Despite the drop in union membership, the Employment Rights Bill has the potential to reinvigorate the UK's union movement, driven by factors such as the impact of AI on industries and concerns over job displacement.
Written by urgent.news from TechRadar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
