What is recognition, why does it matter and how do we achieve it?
In recent years at Prospect we’ve seen an increase in people asking us: “I have read about some great union achievements recently and I wanted to know how I could achieve that in my workplace?”
The answer isn’t simple – union campaigns achieve success through a variety of methods and each campaign is different – but there is one thing that can be crucial in assisting us when seeking to improve our work lives: that is union recognition.
While we can do a lot for all our members, we can have a particularly large impact in employers where we are officially recognised. In this blog I’ll discuss what recognition is, go in to some detail about the benefits and outline the steps you can take to get Prospect recognised in your workplace.
What is recognition?
Trade union recognition is the formal acknowledgment by an employer that a particular trade union represents a significant proportion of its employees (you might hear this called a bargaining unit). In the UK, recognition is not automatic; it must be actively sought by the trade union.
Once recognised, the union gains the right to negotiate on behalf of its members with the employer regarding terms and conditions of employment. Recognition is underpinned by a collective bargaining agreement and the union will be able to negotiate on whatever is in that agreement, examples include pay, pensions, or health and safety.
What are the benefits of recognition?
Collective bargaining power
Perhaps the most significant advantage of trade union recognition is the ability to engage in collective bargaining. This empowers the union to negotiate with the employer on matters such as pay, working hours, and employment conditions.
By acting as a unified voice, union members can address concerns and secure better terms for all. The fact that formal negotiations must take place under a recognition agreement means that employers can’t decide that these things are not important and just ignore them or impose changes without consultation – they must be tackled head on.
Enhanced job security
Recognised trade unions can play a vital role in safeguarding job security. Through negotiations, unions can advocate for job protection measures during restructuring, and ensure that the employer adheres to proper consultation processes before making significant changes.
Improved working conditions
Recognition provides a platform for trade unions to advocate for improved working conditions. This includes issues such as health and safety standards, appointments to health and safety committees, workplace facilities, and employee well-being. With the collective strength of union members, positive changes can be implemented to create a healthier work environment.
Access to training and development opportunities
Recognised unions often have a say in training and development programmes. This ensures that employees have access to relevant and beneficial training opportunities, enhancing their skills and employability. This contributes to the overall growth and success of both the workforce and the organization.
Time off for reps
In recognition agreements, union representatives are often entitled to ‘facility time’ – a specified time off their day-to-day work duties to undertake trade union duties. Clearly, the more people Prospect have with the ability to spend more time on union work, the stronger we are as a union.
How do I get Prospect recognised in my workplace?
There are two main routes that you could take to get Prospect recognised by your employer but either way, it’s much easier if you have lots of Prospect members. So, above all, the most important thing here is to speak to your colleagues and ask them to join Prospect. One of the main reasons people give for not joining a union is that they haven’t been asked – so ask them!
If you have a good chunk of colleagues who are Prospect members, we can take one of the following routes:
The voluntary route
Where we have strong membership numbers in an employer, we can speak to the employer letting them know that many of their staff are Prospect members and asking them to enter a recognition agreement with us.
This is Prospect’s preferred way of securing recognition. We argue that there are also many benefits to employers entering into recognition agreements. These include:
- a single point of contact for negotiations
- employee involvement and engagement leads to better performance
- experience of employment relations leading to improved policies and procedures
- improved staff morale
- access to a network of workers in their industry.
Where Prospect membership is strong, an employer will often conclude that it would be beneficial for everyone to enter into a recognition agreement.
Statutory recognition
We can turn to the government tribunal route through the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC).
To go down this route, you need to either:
- show that more than half the staff of the employer are already Prospect members (the 50% plus one rule)
- demonstrate that workers in the employer would welcome union recognition via a ballot. Turnout must be 40% and a majority must vote in favour.
But again, convincing our colleagues to join Prospect is critical achieving statutory recognition – if we have enough members, it doesn’t matter how hostile your employer is, they will have to sit down and negotiate with us by law.
I want to start the recognition process in my workplace, what should I do now?
It’s great if you are thinking of getting Prospect recognised in your workplace. Get in touch with us – drop us an email at [email protected], telling us your name and your employer and we will have a chat with you about how we might kick off the process.
Prospect are very experienced in this area and we are regularly securing new recognition agreements so we’re adept at engaging with employers and guiding members through the process.
In the meantime, get recruiting new members, the best way to achieve recognition (and any success as a union) is by having a strong and active membership. Our strength is in our numbers.