What the media says about me...
"the admirably independent minded Gordon Prentice"Quentin Letts, Daily Mail, 12 February 2009
| Get Organised! |
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| Wednesday, 20 May 2009 14:04 |
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Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, is urging working people in his Pendle constituency to get organised and join a trade union. Speaking from his Westminster officer earlier today, the MP said: "Over the years I have had a small but steady stream of people who had been made redundant – or were threatened by it – and needed help and advice." "Nine times out of ten they are not members of a trade union. I always advise them to join one." "Statutory recognition of a trade union allows the union to negotiate collective agreements on pay, hours and holidays and much else besides." "And in difficult times, the help and support of a union is invaluable. Well meaning local councillors or, indeed, MPs are no substitute." "Unfortunately, in Pendle, there are some big employers who do not recognise trade unions." Note to Editors: There is no general obligation on an employer to recognise a trade union so but a process exists whereby an independent body may compel recognition in certain circumstances on the application of a trade union that seeks it. Details are available from the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC). Statutory recognition of a trade union allows the union to negotiate collective agreements on behalf of a group of workers called "the bargaining unit" in respect of pay, hours and holidays. The system is administered by the CAC, which has the power to grant recognition and to determine various matters to allow collective bargaining to take place. A trade union can apply to the CAC for a declaration giving it the right to recognition for the purpose of carrying out collective bargaining on behalf of a group of workers in a bargaining unit. The provisions do not apply where the employer employs less than 21 workers. How it works: Trade union writes to the employer seeking recognition: If agreement is reached between the union and the employer the statutory recognition procedure is regarded as closed. The parties can have the agreement recognised by the CAC. Application by trade union to the CAC: In the absence of agreement the union may apply to the CAC which will decide whether to accept the application. There are requirements for at least 10% of the workers in the proposed bargaining unit to be members of the union(s), and for the CAC to be satisfied that a majority of the workers in the bargaining unit would be likely to favour recognition. Agreement or determination of a bargaining unit: If the union's application is accepted, the parties have a period to agree the appropriate bargaining unit if they have not already done so, otherwise it will fall to the CAC to determine. If this turns out to be different from the bargaining unit originally proposed by the union then the acceptance requirements (which include the 10% union membership and ‘majority likely’ tests) must be applied afresh. Determining whether to award recognition or to hold a ballot: When the bargaining unit is determined, the CAC must make a declaration awarding automatic recognition if it is satisfied that a majority of the workers in the bargaining unit are union members, unless it decides that a ballot should be held for any of the reasons in paragraph 22(4) of the Schedule (in the interests of good industrial relations or because workers may oppose the recognition). Recognition ballot: A ballot is conducted by a Qualified Independent Person. The employer must allow the union(s) to communicate with the workers in the bargaining |