Labour Research June 2002

Union news

Kwik recognition

The Transport and General Workers' Union has won union recognition at Kwik-Fit, the high street car exhaust, tyres and brakes company.

A massive 99.4% voted in favour of the union in a ballot, organised by the Central Arbitration Committee, with 466 saying "yes" and only three saying "no". Turnout was over 80%.

T&G regional official Steve Hart said: "This is a fantastic result. Kwik-Fit is in the service sector, with dispersed workplaces - 110 in London employing an average of five people and a high labour turnover."

He added: "This is meant to be the most difficult area for trade unionism. The T&G

and Kwik-Fit workers have overturned the conventional wisdom. We have shown that where workers want it and where trade unions organise there is a clear route to recognition."