NTL staff reject derecognition

Broadcast union BECTU has fended off a derecognition bid by cable TV firm NTL in its field operations division.

Earlier this year, following the sale of part of the company where the union was active, NTL gave BECTU notice that it planned to derecognise it within the division. However, after talks at the conciliation service ACAS, it was agreed to ballot the division's 1,289 staff on the issue.

Staff voted by 430 votes to 53 (a margin of nine to one) to retain recognition. Even though the ballot was held in August, more than a third of the total electorate voted in favour of recognition - a condition agreed with NTL for the result to be considered valid.

Welcoming a "wonderful result", BECTU national officer Nigel Mason said the union would now be looking to "increase our number of members in NTL and encourage more people to become active in the union."