Derecognition goes ahead

Virgin Media has de-recognised the CWU and BECTU communications and media unions (see Labour Research, December 2012, page 7). The unions believe the move was coordinated by union-busting specialists.

A slim majority of staff (52%) voted against continuing recognition in a company-run ballot that was not independently scrutinised. The unions say the ballot applied to some staff not covered by the collective agreements, that unions were given less than a week’s notice of the ballot and that they were not allowed access to staff while the referendum took place.

The company confirmed that the unions were not allowed to make their case in company presentations to staff, but said they were allowed “equal billing” on the company’s intranet. The CWU said this amounted to one short statement.

A spokesperson for Virgin told Labour Research that collective bargaining had ended but that the company’s all-staff VOICE forums which remain, are “instrumental in pay and conditions discussions”.