Decision

Acceptance Decision

Updated 4 September 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Case Number: TUR1/1597(2026)

4 September 2026

CENTRAL ARBITRATION COMMITTEE

TRADE UNION AND LABOUR RELATIONS (CONSOLIDATION) ACT 1992

SCHEDULE A1 - COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: RECOGNITION

DECISION ON WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE APPLICATION

The Parties:

CWU

and

SafeGuard World International Ltd. trading as SafeGuard Global

1. Introduction

1)         CWU (the Union) submitted an application to the CAC on 7 August 2026 that it should be recognised for collective bargaining by SafeGuard World International Ltd. trading as SafeGuard Global (the Employer) for a bargaining unit comprising of “All staff in the UK employed by SafeGuard as Employer of Record for and on behalf of Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.”. The CAC gave both parties notice of receipt of the application on 7 August 2026. The Employer submitted a response to the CAC dated 14 August 2026 which was copied to the Union.

2)         In accordance with section 263 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (the Act), the CAC Chair established a Panel to deal with the case. The Panel consisted of Ms Naeema Choudry, Panel Chair, and, as Members, Ms Amanda Ashworth and Mr Paul Morley. The Case Manager appointed to support the Panel was Kaniza Bibi.

3)         The CAC Panel has extended the acceptance period in this case. The initial period expired on 21 August 2026. The acceptance period was extended to 18 September 2026 in order to allow time for the parties to comment on the results of a membership check and for the Panel to consider those comments before arriving at a decision.

2. Issues

4)         The Panel is required by paragraph 15 of Schedule A1 to the Act (the Schedule) to decide whether the Union’s application to the CAC is valid within the terms of paragraphs 5 to 9; is made in accordance with paragraphs 11 or 12; is admissible within the terms of paragraphs 33 to 42; and therefore, should be accepted.

3. The Union’s application

5)         In its application, the Union stated that it had sent its request for recognition to the Employer on 24 June 2026. It said that the Employer had refused the request in an email dated 7 July 2026 but indicated a willingness to negotiate and wished to discuss the scope of any potential recognition and the terms on which it might be granted. A copy of the Union’s request letter and the Employer’s email of 7 July 2026 was attached to the application.

6)         When asked whether the Union had made a previous application under the Schedule for statutory recognition for workers in the proposed bargaining unit or a similar unit the Union answered “No”. The Union stated that, following receipt of the request for recognition, the Employer had proposed that Acas should be requested to assist the parties.

7)        The Union stated that the total number of workers employed by the Employer was 42 and confirmed that this was the number employed by SafeGuard on behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation. It further stated that there were 42 workers in the proposed bargaining unit, of whom 26 were members of the Union.

8)         In answer to the question whether the bargaining unit had been agreed with the Employer, the Union said “No”. The Union said that there was no existing recognition agreement of which it was aware which covered any workers in the bargaining unit.

9)         The Union confirmed that it held a current certificate of independence. Finally, the Union stated that it had copied its application and supporting documents to the Employer on 6 August 2026. The Union said it consented to its contact details being forwarded to Acas.

4. The Employer’s response to the Union’s application

10)       The Employer stated that it received the Union’s written request for recognition on 24 June 2026. It explained that it had indicated a willingness to negotiate and to participate in the voluntary recognition procedure. On 6 August 2026, with Acas involvement, the parties-initiated discussions on the appropriate bargaining unit. This was the Employer’s first response within the CAC process.

11)       The Employer confirmed that it had received a copy of the application form and supporting documents from the Union on 7 August 2026. The Employer, when asked whether it had agreed the bargaining unit with the Union before receiving a copy of the application form, stated “No”. The Employer stated that, following receipt of the Union’s request, it had proposed that Acas should be requested to assist.

12)       When asked to confirm the total number of workers it employed, the Employer stated 506. It said that there were 45 workers in the bargaining unit as defined in the Union’s application. When asked to explain the reason for any difference, the Employer stated that the proposed bargaining unit only included those employees of Safeguard who are assigned to work for the Wikimedia Foundation, and that three additional workers had recently been hired on behalf of the client.

13)       The Employer said that there was no existing agreement for recognition in force covering workers in the proposed bargaining unit. When asked whether it agree with the Union’s estimate of membership in the bargaining unit the Employer answered “No”.  

14)       The Employer when asked whether it was aware of any previous application under the Schedule by the Union in respect of this or a similar bargaining unit stated, “No”. And in response to whether it was aware of any other applications in respect of any workers in the proposed bargaining unit, the Employer said that it was not aware of any previous applications having been made. The Employer said that it consented to its contact details being forwarded to Acas.

5. The membership check

15)       To assist in the determination of one of the admissibility criteria specified in the Schedule, namely, whether members of the union constitute at least the required percentage (currently 10%) of the workers in the proposed bargaining unit (paragraph 36(1)), the Panel proposed an independent check of the level of union membership within the proposed bargaining unit. It was agreed with the parties that the Employer would supply to the Case Manager a list of the names, dates of birth and job titles of workers within the proposed bargaining unit, and that the Union would supply to the Case Manager a list of its paid-up members within that unit (including their dates of birth). It was explicitly agreed with both parties that, to preserve confidentiality, the respective lists would not be copied to the other party and that agreement was confirmed in a letter dated 17 August 2026 from the Case Manager to both parties. 

16)       The information requested from the Employer was received by the CAC on 20 August 2026 and from the Union on 18 August 2026. The Panel is satisfied that this check was conducted properly and impartially and in accordance with the agreement reached with the parties.   

17)       The list supplied by the Employer indicated that there were 45 workers in the Union’s proposed bargaining unit. The list of members supplied by the Union contained 26 names. According to the Case Manager’s report, the number of Union members in the proposed bargaining unit was 21, a membership level of 57.78%. 

18)       A report of the result of the membership check was circulated to the Panel and the parties on 20 August 2026 and the parties were invited to comment on the results of that check by close of business on 25 August 2026.

6. Summary of the parties’ comments following the membership check

19)       In an email dated 24 August 2026 the Employer stated that it did not have any comments on the membership check report.

20)       In an email dated 24 August 2026, the Union stated that its only comment was that it hoped the Panel would be satisfied that it had met the required threshold for recognition without a ballot and would confirm this as soon as possible.

7. Considerations

21)       In determining whether to accept the application the Panel must decide whether the admissibility and validity provisions referred to in paragraph 3 of this decision are satisfied. The Panel has considered all the evidence submitted by the parties in reaching its decision.

22)       The Panel is satisfied that the application is not rendered inadmissible by any of the provisions in paragraphs 33 to 35 and paragraphs 37 to 42 and that it was made in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Schedule. The remaining issue for the Panel to address is whether the admissibility criterion set out in paragraph 36 of the Schedule is met.

Paragraph 36

23)       Under paragraph 36(1) of the Schedule an application is not admissible unless the Panel decides that members of the union constitute at least the required percentage of the workers in the proposed bargaining unit. Paragraph 171B states that “the required percentage” currently means 10%.

24)       The membership check conducted by the Case Manager showed that 57.78% of the workers in the proposed bargaining unit (26 out of 45 workers) were members of the Union. The Panel is satisfied that this check was conducted properly and impartially and in accordance with the agreement reached with the parties. The Panel has therefore decided that members of the union constitute at least the required percentage of the workers in the proposed bargaining unit as required by paragraph 36(1) of the Schedule.

8. Decision

25)       For the reasons given above, the Panel’s decision is that the application is accepted by the CAC.

Panel

Ms Naeema Choudry, Panel Chair

Ms Amanda Ashworth

Mr Paul Morley

4 September 2026