Rise in claims for recognition

A “substantial number” of applications for union recognition in residential care facilities contributed to an overall rise in statutory claims, according to the 2012-13 annual report of the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC).

The number of statutory recognition applications rose for the second year running.

In the year ending 31 March 2013, there were 54 applications compared with 43 the previous year and 28 two years ago.

There were more applications for recognition in large employers (of over 2,000 workers) than has generally been the case. But the average size of the bargaining unit was still small, at 174 workers.

CAC chair Sir Michael Burton noted an aspect of the process “which is not obvious to the naked eye” — the significant number of applications that result in a voluntary recognition agreement after having been withdrawn.

These are not explicitly recorded. But CAC analysis suggests that, overall, 163 voluntary agreements have been reached from cases that began as statutory applications.

This suggests that the total number of applications resulting in recognition as at 31 March 2013 is 412, roughly half the number of applications submitted.

www.cac.gov.uk/media/pdf/5/s/The_CAC_Annual_Report_2012-2013.pdf