Google UK Signs Access Agreement With Prospect Union

Google UK signed an access agreement with the Prospect union on Monday, granting the union the right to organize approximately 7,000 employees across its UK operations, including YouTube. The deal excludes Google DeepMind, where the Communication Workers Union is pursuing a separate recognition agreement.

The agreement follows a similar deal between Prospect and Meta and stems from new workplace legislation under the Employment Rights Act. This law allows unions to enter workplaces or use electronic communication to encourage unionization. Google stated the move was made to comply with the law, noting that the step builds on its work with internal representative groups to preserve a culture of direct dialogue.

Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy described the agreement as a "powerful signal of intent" that unions can successfully negotiate with global tech giants. He stated that tech workers deserve a stronger voice regarding pay, flexibility, AI deployment, and workplace culture. The Trades Union Congress expects this to trigger a broader wave of similar recognition deals across the UK private sector over the next year.