Statutory recognition tops 100

Over 100 declarations of union recognition have been granted through the statutory process in the first five years of its operation. These figures are from the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC), which has responsibility for the process.

The CAC's 2004-05 annual report includes a five-year review of the statutory union recognition procedure introduced in June 2000. It states that the CAC has received 444 applications from unions for recognition, of which 116, covering 23,000 workers, were successful.

Over the same period, 110 recognition ballots have been held, and unions won 70 of them. There were also 57 applications for recognition without a ballot, of which two thirds were granted.