Substantially more applications for statutory trade union recognition

Unions made substantially more applications for statutory union recognition in 2023-24 than in the previous two years.

The annual report of the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) records that unions made 81 new applications in the latest year — a 53% rise on the 53 made in 2022-23 and a 76% increase on the 46 received in 2021-22.

The number of applications where the CAC granted recognition without ordering a ballot (where the union has successfully claimed majority membership in the bargaining unit) was 19, the same as in the previous year.

However, in the nine ballots which were required, unions were successful in only three — a smaller proportion (33%) than the 80% success rate last year and the historical average of 63%.

In the case of 18 applications for statutory recognition, the union and employer came to a voluntary recognition agreement after the application had been made.

The report also detailed the first case of an employer applying to derecognise a union on the basis that the union’s membership in the bargaining unit, agreed three years previously, had fallen below 50%. The employer, Noble Foods, was attempting to end collective bargaining with the Unite general union.

However, the workers voted in favour of retaining recognition, so it remains in place. And the employer was thus barred from making a further application for three years.