Derecognise a union

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Employers: reduced workforce

As an employer, you can apply to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) to have a trade union derecognised if both of the following are true:

  • you’ve employed less than 21 people for a continuous 13-week period
  • it is more than 3 years since recognition was declared by the CAC

You must give written notice to the union asking for the union to be derecognised. Notice must be given within 5 days of the end of the relevant 13-week period.

Your letter must include the following details:

  • the specific 13-week period during which you had less than 21 workers
  • the number of workers you employed in that time
  • the current bargaining arrangements
  • the date you want the arrangements to end - this must be at least 35 working days after the request was made

You must give a copy of the letter to the CAC. The CAC will tell you within 10 days if the notice you gave the union was valid.

Central Arbitration Committee
PO Box 78137
London
SW1P 9XE

Your notice is valid

The union will be derecognised and you won’t have to negotiate with them anymore, unless they make an application to the CAC because they believe that:

  • the 13-week period was within 3 years of them gaining recognition
  • your company employed 21 or more workers during that time

Your notice isn’t valid

You must continue with the current collective bargaining arrangements.

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