Industrial Relations

Industrial Relations skills are in short supply, yet in high demand. Marshall-James are experts in all matters relating to Employer/Union relationships

Working with Trade Unions can be daunting. Getting it right though can be one of the most significant enablers of change, but getting it wrong will be costly. Experience of working with Trade Unions is a declining skill amongst Managers and HR Professionals but expertise of this type is still central to good union relationships.

For organisations who have little experience and who may be faced with a request from a Trade Union for recognition; or a hearing following an application to the Central Arbitration Committee; or increased union activity in an already unionised work place; working with experts will bring clarity, focus and purposeful action.


If you are in the middle of a dispute, the thinking an external party can provide can be very useful. It's not uncommon for organisations to focus on the immediate problems and not necessarily think more broadly. Marshall-James works with clients to bring clear external thinking to very difficult and pressurised situations. We are able to improve the quality of your decision making.

More and more organisations are needing to create greater flexibility through modernising working practices, recognition agreements, collective agreements and terms and conditions. But not all organisations know where to start or how to deliver such a complex change. We have worked on many projects of this type and have helped organisations achieve substantial changes.

Having a well thought through Industrial Relations strategy which supports the objectives and goals of the business is vital. Often, employers will not draw up an IR Strategy because they feel it is one of those areas that cannot be influenced or substantially changed. We believe that it is important to decide what is required from an IR strategy because Industrial Relations will demand resource, management time and paid time off for representatives so it needs to be worth the investment. It also needs to be correctly balanced.

We are not employment lawyers, nor are we anti-union. We are expert practitioners with experience in all aspects of employee and Industrial Relations, in different sectors, both inside and outside the UK.

For more information on how Marshall-James can assist your organisation on a strategic, advisory or delivery level with its industrial relations challenges and strategy, contact us directly.