Google Lets Trade Unions Into UK Offices to Recruit Staff

Google is giving trade unions access to thousands of its UK employees, after Labour made it easier for unions to recruit new members.

The US tech firm has agreed allow trade union Prospect into its UK offices, including its King’s Cross headquarters, according to a statement published Monday.

Prospect said it wants to grow its Google membership enough to secure a say over pay, flexible working and the AI rollout. Google has over 7,000 staff in the UK.

Trade unions gained the right to access UK workplaces from last Friday, as part of the Labour government’s overhaul of employment laws. Prospect has already struck a similar access deal with Meta.com Inc. earlier this autumn, in anticipation of the rule changes.

Read more: UK Firms Open Up Offices to Let Trade Unions Recruit Members

“This access agreement is a powerful signal of intent that we can successfully negotiate agreements with even the biggest global tech companies,” said Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy.

A Google spokesperson said the deal “builds on our established work with internal employee representative groups.”

The employment law changes are already driving businesses to prepare non-disclosure agreements for trade union representatives entering facilities, amid concerns that organizers could view confidential computer screens or disturb client relations.

Other firms are revising internal HR policies to mitigate potential workplace friction regarding union affiliation. Organizations that persistently deny entry to labor representatives risk financial penalties reaching £500,000 ($666,000).