Fresh polling conducted by Survation for the Independent Business Network suggests a disconnect between Labour’s Employment Rights Act and the priorities of workers in small and medium‑sized enterprises.
The survey found that just seven per cent of SME employees consider union membership important for career progression — the lowest‑ranked factor measured.
By contrast, 87 per cent of respondents said they feel secure in their current roles.
The findings raise questions about whether the Government’s workplace reforms reflect the concerns of employees in smaller firms.
When asked about barriers to progression, workers pointed to issues unrelated to union representation.
Limited training opportunities, restricted promotion pathways, economic pressures and tight budgets were cited as the main obstacles.
Among 25‑ to 34‑year‑olds, almost a third said insufficient training was their biggest barrier, compared with 13 per cent who mentioned union membership.
For those earning under £20,000, 43 per cent said better training and skills development would support their careers, while just eight per cent said union membership would help.
Workers do not want a union push, a poll has suggested, with Labour employment reforms being questioned
|GETTY
Overall, the results indicate a stronger focus on skills development than on collective representation.
Under the Employment Rights Act, trade unions are granted access to workplaces with as few as 21 employees, with businesses required to provide paid time off for union representatives and allow on‑site recruitment activity.
These provisions mark a significant shift for smaller firms operating with limited resources. According to the British Chambers of Commerce, only two per cent of businesses support mandatory union access.
Despite this, the Government is pressing ahead with the legislation, which requires employers to accommodate union activity regardless of whether staff have requested representation.
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Andrew Griffith echoed the criticism of Labour
| GB NEWSIndependent Business Network chairman John Longworth told GB News the findings highlight the mismatch between policy and workforce priorities.
“Britain’s economy relies on small family‑run businesses driven by ambitious people who get things done,” he said.
“Our poll shows that these hard‑working people don’t want union lectures on the shop floor.
They want good training and an economy that’s thriving to provide them with opportunities to get ahead.”
He added ministers should “start encouraging our SMEs to grow and create jobs by exempting them from the administrative burden of mandatory union access".
Conservative MP Andrew Griffith echoed the criticism: “This poll reminds us, unions with a right to roam aren’t what employees are crying out for to help them in their careers,” he said.
“They need a dynamic economy providing opportunities and people investing in their development.”
He added: “The new union access rights only benefit the Labour party, not Britain’s workers. The Government should be encouraging our SMEs to grow, create jobs, and nurture their employees by exempting all businesses with fewer than 250 workers from the union’s right to roam.”
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