Workplace Report (January 2012)

Recruitment and organisation news

Union gains bargaining at nuclear clean-up body

Professionals’ union Prospect has won the right to bargain on behalf of staff at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). A ballot of staff saw over 70% voting in favour of union recognition in a turnout of around two thirds of the workforce.

Although the union had a reasonable relationship with the nuclear clean-up body, negotiations officer Jez Stewart said: “There was an absence of negotiating rights when it came to pay, hours and holidays.

“We are committed to this welcome development which will further enhance the relationship between the union and the NDA.” The union currently has 229 members at the NDA.

Meanwhile the RMT transport union has completed negotiations over recognition rights at cleaning giant ISS’s Facility Service Transport division. The deal, which gives the union sole recognition rights at the division, allows for the electing of reps at each depot.

And general union Unite has been awarded recognition for scaffolders and labourers at Interserve International in Dalry Ayrshire by the Central Arbitration Committee. The CAC ordered that no ballot was required as 10 of the 17 workers (59%) were union members.

However, Unite lost a CAC-ordered recognition ballot at Polyprint Mailing Films when 20 of the 31 workers in the bargaining unit (64.5%) rejected union recognition.


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