More employers recognising unions, reports TUC

Research published in January 2002 by the UK's Trades Union Congress highlights a significant growth in the number of recognition agreements with employers secured by unions during 2001.

In its latest annual survey of union recognition, published on 21 January 2002, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) reports that unions won 470 new union recognition agreements from employers in 2001 - almost three times the number (159) secured the previous year.

Twenty of the new deals came after ballots of the employees concerned under the statutory trade union recognition provisions of the Employment Relations Act 1999 (UK0201171F). The existence of the statutory procedure was also reported to have been an influential factor in the vast majority of cases where unions secured a voluntary recognition agreement.

The TUC estimates that, as result of these agreements, over 120,000 workers are newly covered by collective bargaining arrangements. The overwhelming majority of the agreements are described as being for 'full recognition', ie including at least pay, working hours and holidays as provided for by the statutory scheme.

Notable voluntary agreements reported included deals: between the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU) and Virgin Atlantic, covering 2,800 cabin crew and beauty therapists; between the AEEU and Tibbett & Britton (1,200 distribution workers); between the Transport and General Workers' Union and MFI (2,500 manufacturing workers); and between the GMB general union and Securicor CIT (1,500 security staff). However, agreements have more typically been secured in medium-sized businesses, employing more than 100 but fewer than 500 workers.

Recognition agreements reached after the holding of ballots under the statutory procedure included those: between the AEEU and Honda (4,000 workers) (UK0201171F); between the technical union Manufacturing Science Finance and Saudi Arabia Airlines (UK0103117N); and between the British Air Line Pilots' Association and Easyjet.

Commenting on the figures, TUC general secretary John Monks said in a statement: 'This report confirms that unions are very much back in business and that employers want to do business with them. Sensible employers understand that today's unions seek partnership and good working relationships. They can be good for business, as well as good for staff.'

The report notes that, 'in the main, the [statutory recognition procedure] seems to be working well although the TUC is campaigning for changes in the law where there are particular problems.' For example, the TUC believes that a simple majority of those voting should be sufficient to secure recognition, whereas the law currently includes an additional hurdle requiring at least 40% of the workforce within a particular bargaining unit to have voted in favour of recognition. The TUC also opposes the current exclusion of small businesses (ie those employing under 21 workers) from the statutory procedure. The TUC submitted a detailed document to the government in October 2001, calling for a range of amendments to the Employment Relations Act.