REGIONAL union leaders are forecasting a deluge of calls from members across the North-East and North Yorkshire in response to new legislation launched this week.

Yesterday saw the beginning of new rights for all union members in the workplace, whether their employer recognises unions or not.

Workers now have the right to be accompanied at work by a union official for discipline and grievance hearings.

According to Britain's general union, the GMB, in the past many employers they describe as "anti-union" in the region, have denied union members the same rights as members in union-recognised workplaces.

Kevin Rowan, education and research officer for the GMB, said: "Those firms that do not recognise the union will be unable to stop us coming onto the sites and representing our members.

"This is a major boost for all union members in the region and we are expecting a deluge of calls over the next few weeks. We will be keen to see the response of our members at firms up and down the region that do not recognise a union."

Regional secretary of the GMB Kevin Curran said: "September 4 marked a watershed in the development of the rights of people at work.

"No matter what their employer's view is, all union members will be able to access the professional and independent support of a trade union."

But human resources manager at one of the firms in the region where the no union is recognised. said interest in union membership was not that strong.

Anne Yare of Cleveland-based SK Chilled Foods said: "We have openly consulted our workforce on union recognition.

"We received a low number of replies from staff and there was no strong interest in having union recognition."

She added: "We will abide by the new legislation and any union members will be allowed representation."