Vodafone statutory recognition process begins

Communication workers’ union Connect won round one of its recognition battle at Vodafone last month when the CAC accepted its application for statutory recognition.

The union is claiming recognition for the “Regional Operations North” part of the telecoms giant, which covers mainly field-based staff working out of Warrington as well as other locations in the north of the UK.

The union submitted the claim in February, saying that more than 50% of the staff in the proposed bargaining unit were Connect members. The company said there was no evidence of this, but a check carried out by the CAC revealed that union membership in the unit was over 64%.

Vodafone also claims that the bargaining unit proposed by Connect is “not compatible with effective management,” but it has so far given the CAC no reasons for this. The next stage of the statutory process will examine both sides’ arguments.

If Connect wins recognition for the workers, it will be the first time that Vodafone has recognised a union within the UK.

• Public services union PCS has won recognition among retail staff at the National Gallery Company after a CAC-ordered ballot confirmed that enough staff were in favour.