To deliver day-one rights, we have chosen strategy over stalemate

The deal unions have agreed to, in order to adjust the unfair dismissal protections in the Employment Rights Bill, is both a good deal for our members and a necessary one, says Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy.

Trade unions and the Government have been emphasising the importance of the Employment Rights Bill receiving Royal Assent on schedule, which sets out the introduction of key measures in early 2026.

In order to prevent the Bill from being further delayed in the House of Lords, the Government has introduced a change to a right to protection from unfair dismissal from day one on a job.

The qualifying period will now be reduced from 24 months to 6 months. Rights to sick pay and paternity leave will still be available from day one.

Prospect General Secretary Mike Clancy said:

“The Employment Rights Bill represents the biggest single change to workers’ rights in the last 50 years.

“But while the Government has tried everything to get this legislation through, they have been repeatedly defeated on the issue of protection from unfair dismissal, and some other issues, in the House of Lords.

“Every month the Bill is delayed is another month without new protections on sick pay, new maternity and paternity rights, and where employers can fire and rehire workers with impunity.

“Faced with the prospect of waiting until 2027 or 2028 for these rights, the case for returning to the negotiating table was overwhelming, so unions initiated discussions and engaged with a clear set of objectives, which we ultimately secured.

“The deal we have agreed to is both a good deal for our members and a necessary one. We have significantly strengthened unfair dismissal rights for millions of workers, created a compelling deterrent against bad employer behaviour, and given ourselves the best possible chance of getting this legislation into law.”

Read more from Mike Clancy on LabourList.