Prospect and Google UK sign union access deal covering about 7,000 workers
Prospect can organise among about 7,000 Google UK workers, including YouTube but excluding DeepMind, under new UK employment rights rules.
The story in focus
The Guardian reports that Prospect has reached an access agreement with Google covering about 7,000 UK workers, including YouTube but excluding DeepMind. Google said the deal complies with new UK workplace legislation. A similar Prospect-Meta agreement covering about 5,000 UK employees is also noted.
- Prospect's agreement with Google covers about 7,000 workers across UK operations.
- YouTube staff are included in the agreement; DeepMind is excluded.
- Google said it signed to comply with new UK workplace legislation and cited existing internal employee representative groups.
- The Guardian reports a similar agreement between Prospect and Meta, which employs about 5,000 people in the UK.
- The Employment Rights Act gives unions rights to enter workplaces and communicate with workers.
What the agreement covers
Prospect will be able to run workplace sessions and communicate with non-unionised workers to encourage membership, according to The Guardian. The access extends to Google's King's Cross headquarters in London.
The Guardian reports that Google DeepMind is expected to reach a separate agreement, with the Communication Workers Union and Unite seeking recognition there.
Why Google signed
Google said it signed the access agreement to comply with the new UK workplace legislation, while maintaining that it already had good internal employee relations and citing its internal employee representative groups.
Under the Employment Rights Act, unions have the right to enter workplaces to meet workers or communicate electronically. The Guardian reports that from January employers will be required to inform workers of their right to join a union.
Wider union push
The Guardian reports that Prospect also has an agreement with Meta, which employs about 5,000 people in the UK. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said last week he expected a wave of private-sector recognition deals over the next year.
Prospect represents more than 160,000 UK workers across several sectors, according to The Guardian.
How many Google UK workers does the Prospect access agreement cover?
The Guardian reports the agreement covers about 7,000 workers across Google's UK operations, including YouTube but excluding DeepMind, and describes a similar Prospect-Meta agreement covering about 5,000 UK employees.
Sources & further reading
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