Significant provisions of the Trade Unions ACt 2016 come into force today as prescribed by the Trade Union Act 2016 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional) Regulations 2017.

The key changes are set out below. A full list can be found in the SI.

* section 2: 50% turnout requirement for ballots * section 3: 40% support requirement for industrial action ballots in important public services * section 5: information to be included on the voting paper * section 6: information to members etc about result of the ballot * section 7: information to Certification Officer about industrial action etc * section 8: two weeks' notice to be given to employers of industrial action * section 9: expiry of mandate for industrial action * section 10: union supervision of picketing * section 11: opting in by union members to contribute to political funds. Unions have until 1 March 2018 to comply * section 12: union's annual return to include details of political expenditure * section 13: publication requirements in relation to facility time * section 15: restriction on deduction of union subscriptions from wages in public sector * section 18: enforcement by Certification Officer of new annual return requirements