Union demands right to sign up workers - just three minutes after Rayner's law came in
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A union wrote to thousands of chief executives demanding access to their staff just three minutes after a new law came in.
The GMB sent 'Dear CEO' emails saying they must be given access to 'meet, recruit or organise workers'.
Under former Deputy PM Angela Rayner's radical employment rights reforms, shop stewards and union officials now have power to access offices and factories.
Unions can demand weekly access to companies with at least 21 workers and bosses are at risk of £500,000 fines if they fail to comply.
The changes came fully into force on October 30 when at three minutes past midnight, the GMB, which represents about 600,000 workers, wrote to chief executives, reminding them of the new rules.
The union outlined its right to invite all staff to online meetings in working hours, as well as bosses' duty to distribute union correspondence within two working days.
Angela Rayner’s employment rights reforms have given union officials and shop stewards new powers to access offices and factories
Employers also cannot spy on staff, as they must 'not record or monitor attendance at GMB online meetings, and not track engagement with GMB communications, including email'.
There is concern the reforms will be costly for employers, as well as suspicions that Labour introduced them to help unions increase membership.
The rules form part of Labour's Employment Rights Act, which the Government has warned could cost businesses up to £5billion a year.
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