This illuminating episode compares and contrasts trade unions trends in 2027  and what this means for employers. This episode offers some insights from Australia, the U.S., the UK, continental Europe, and several countries in Asia.

Will 2027 be a year of union renewal in the jurisdictions covered? The signs point to (mostly) yes.

In this episode of Ashurst Perkins Coie’s World @ Work series, Peter McNulty (Australia) hosts a global panel with colleagues Heather Sager (covering the US), Ruth Buchanan (UK), Jordan Cohen (France, Germany and Spain) and Jeannette Tam (several jurisdictions in Asia). Together, they compare the latest union trends in their respective parts of the world and explore employer readiness.

The panel tracks unions’ moves into non-traditional industries such as video gaming, software development, the gig economy and even college athletics. And they look at how unions are participating in conventional industries in increasingly non-traditional ways.

AI is a constant theme. From negotiating no-forced-redundancy clauses in enterprise agreements in Australia to works council rights in France, Germany and Spain, AI is an union focal point. New laws are also expanding unions’ reach, most notably in the UK, where the Employment Rights Act 2025 gives unions a statutory right to access workplaces, both physically and digitally.

Hong Kong is the outlier. Jeannette explains why union registrations are on the decline, and the implications for multinationals operating there. Jeanette also provides updates on Singapore, Indonesia and South Korea.

Each panelist closes with tips for employers in 2027. In the US, Heather says employers should get proactive and “provide lines of communication and resources for your employees that make them “feel heard”.”. In Europe, Jordan suggests employers “treat social dialogue as a strategic asset”. In Asia, Jeannette says there’s no single playbook, so “take it country by country”. In Australia, Peter recommends planning industrial relations strategy over a two- to three-year horizon. As for the UK, Ruth recommends employers “keep an open mind and not to view unions as an adversary”.

To listen, search for “Legal Outlook by Ashurst Perkins Coie: The World @ Work” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast player. You can also find out more about the full range of Ashurst Perkins Coie podcasts at ashurstperkinscoie.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.