Recognition success at WH Smith

The GMB general union has won recognition on behalf of 163 workers at WH Smith’s Birmingham distribution centre.

In a postal ballot of the hourly paid staff, 63% voted in favour of recognition on a turnout of 64%. The ballot was run by employment relations service Acas along the lines used by the Central Arbitration Committee, but on a voluntary basis. Management had already agreed to recognise the union if that was what the staff wanted.

The union and company are now discussing formal bargaining procedures.

GMB membership development officer David Day welcomed the vote and the particularly high turnout for a postal ballot. “The employees … have voted and have shown beyond doubt that they want GMB as their chosen trade union,” he said.

www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/whsmiths-workers-get-gmb-deal