Google handed the Prospect union access to its UK offices and 7,000 workers on Monday — not because management wanted to, but because the Labour government's new Employment Rights Act left no choice. The same legislative squeeze is coming for American workplaces.
The deal lets Prospect recruiters hold sessions inside Google's King's Cross headquarters and communicate with staff electronically. The union's goal: sign up enough members to force formal recognition, which would give it a seat at the table on pay, flexible working, and how Google deploys AI. A similar deal was struck with Meta in September, covering about 5,000 UK workers. The Guardian reported that DeepMind, Google's AI division, was carved out of this agreement — the Communication Workers Union and Unite are separately seeking recognition there.
This wasn't a voluntary arrangement. The UK's Employment Rights Act, which took effect Friday, gives unions a legal right to enter workplaces. Employers who refuse face fines up to £500,000, according to TNW. Starting in January, companies will also be required to inform workers of their right to join a union.
Google's statement said the deal
