The trade union statement
From 1 January 2027, you must give every new starter the government’s statement on their right to join a trade union, and give it to staff already with you by 5 April 2027.
- When it starts
- 1 January 2027
- Who it affects
- All your workers, new and existing
- Status
- Date confirmed; wording expected in November 2026
What’s changing
From 1 January 2027, employers in England, Scotland and Wales must give workers a standard statement about their right to join a trade union. Workers here means your employees and anyone else who agrees to work for you personally without running their own business, such as many casual or zero-hours staff.
- New starters: give it at the same time as their written statement of terms, the document setting out their main terms, which is due on their first day.
- Staff already with you: give it by 5 April 2027 to everyone still working for you on that date.
- Every year after: give it again by 5 April. If you keep it on your intranet or in your staff handbook instead, remind staff each year where to find it.
You can give it directly, by email, post or in person, or make it available on your intranet or in your staff handbook, as long as staff are told where it is and it stays available at all times.
The statement explains what trade unions do and the rights union members have. You can’t change its wording, except where that’s required or permitted. When we checked on 8 October 2026, the wording hadn’t been published. The government expects to set it out in legislation in November 2026, with detailed guidance to follow.
What it means for a small employer
It’s one more document for your starter pack, given with the contract on day one, and a job to do for the whole team by 5 April each year.
Until the wording is published, you can plan how you’ll give it: with the contract for new starters, and by email or in person for the staff already with you.
An example, with made-up names. Rosa runs a shop with 7 staff. When Ben starts on 11 January 2027, he gets the statement with his contract on his first day. Rosa gives it to the 7 staff already with her by 5 April 2027, then to all 8 again by 5 April 2028.
What to do now
-
Add it to your starter pack
For anyone starting from 1 January 2027, given with their written statement of terms.
-
List the staff already with you
Everyone still working for you on 5 April 2027 needs it by then.
-
Choose how you’ll give it
Directly, by email, post or in person, or on your intranet or in your handbook, with a note telling staff where it is.
-
Use the official wording
Use the government’s statement once it’s published, expected in November 2026, without changing it.
-
Set a yearly reminder
By 5 April each year: the statement again, or a reminder of where to find it.
How Maravier handles it
- The statement is part of the new-starter link, so each starter gets it with their contract and written statement, and we record the date they got it.
- For staff already with you, it goes into the app with the other documents they read and sign, and the app records who has had it and when.
- We add the government’s wording once it’s published and our employment solicitor has signed it off.
- Your calendar shows the 5 April 2027 deadline as an action, with a reminder.
Leo, a few things before Monday
- Your detailsAddress and emergency contact
- Bank and tax detailsHMRC starter checklist
- Right to workChecked with your share code
- 4Sign your contractAnd the union rights statement
- 5Staff handbook
- 6Respect at work trainingAbout 20 minutes
All names are made up for the demo.
Sources
- Trade union reform, business.gov.uk
- Employment Rights Act 2025, Acas
- Plan to Make Work Pay and Employment Rights Act: timeline update, gov.uk
- Written statement of employment particulars, gov.uk
Checked against the law on 8 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Get the free 1 January 2027 checklist.
The 10 things every employer in England, Scotland and Wales should have in place, on 2 pages. Emailed to you, free.
Thanks. We’ll email it to you as soon as it’s ready.
Rather have it done for you? Reserve your founding price. It’s refundable until launch.