Employment Relations Act 2004
The Employment Relations Act 2004 (c 24) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which amended UK law regarding trade union membership and industrial action. It received Royal Assent on 16 September 2004. The law also enabled the UK government to make funds available to trade unions and federations of trade unions to modernise their operations.[3]
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| Long title | An Act to amend the law relating to the recognition of trade unions and the taking of industrial action; to make provision about means of voting in ballots under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992; to amend provisions of that Act relating to rights of members and non-members of trade unions and to make other provision about rights of trade union members, employees and workers; to make further provision concerning the enforcement of legislation relating to minimum wages; to make further provision about proceedings before and appeals from the Certification Officer; to make further provision about the amalgamation of trade unions; to make provision facilitating the administration of trade unions and the carrying out by them of their functions; and for connected purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2004 c 24 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales and Scotland, except that sections 43 and 58 extend only to Northern Ireland and any amendment by this Act of an enactment (including an enactment contained in Northern Ireland legislation) has the same extent as the enactment amended.[2] |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 September 2004 |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
Section 59 - Citation, commencement and extent
The following orders have been made under this section:
- The Employment Relations Act 2004 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2566 (C. 108))
- The Employment Relations Act 2004 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3342 (C. 156))
- The Employment Relations Act 2004 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/872 (C. 36))
- The Employment Relations Act 2004 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2419 (C. 100))
Reception
According to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Act contains 'significant union victories'. The TUC's then general secretary, Brendan Barber welcomed the law, noting that "Staff will have to be given information and be consulted over major changes to the business, as they currently are in Britain’s best companies. Trade unions will be able to recruit members in an environment free of underhand, US-style union-busting activities and will find it easier the exclude and expel far-right activists in breach of union rules. The union modernisation fund the [Act] establishes will enable unions to modernise in the same way the government has helped businesses adapt to grow in the modern economy."[3]
References
- The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 59(1) of this Act.
- The Employment Relations Act 2004, sections 59(5) to (7)
- European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Employment Relations Act 2004 begins to come into force, published 7 November 2004, accessed 4 January 2020
External links
- The Employment Relations Act 2004, as amended from the National Archives.
- The Employment Relations Act 2004, as originally enacted from the National Archives.
- Explanatory notes to the Employment Relations Act 2004.