Introductory text

TRADE UNIONS

Made 28th July 2026

Laid before Parliament 29th July 2026

Coming into force 25th August 2026

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 204(3) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992^f1 (“the 1992 Act”).

Under section 203(1) of the 1992 Act^f2, the Secretary of State may issue Codes of Practice containing such practical guidance as the Secretary of State thinks fit for the purposes of promoting the improvement of industrial relations and of promoting what appear to the Secretary of State to be desirable practices in relation to the conduct by trade unions of ballots and elections.

Under section 203(1) of the 1992 Act, the Secretary of State proposed to issue a Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Balloting for Statutory Trade Union Ballots (“the Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Balloting”).

Under section 204(1) of the 1992 Act, the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, prepared and published a draft of the Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Balloting.

Under section 204(1) of the 1992 Act, the Secretary of State considered representations made about the draft of the Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Balloting and modified the draft accordingly.

Under section 204(2) of the 1992 Act, the Secretary of State laid the draft of the Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Balloting before both Houses of Parliament, the draft was approved by resolution of each House of Parliament and the Secretary of State is issuing the Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Balloting in the form of that draft.