Recognition Decision
Updated 3 July 2026
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cac-outcome-unite-the-union-moreco-group-ltd-1/recognition-decision
Case Number: TUR1/1508(2025)
3 July 2026
CENTRAL ARBITRATION COMMITTEE
TRADE UNION AND LABOUR RELATIONS (CONSOLIDATION) ACT 1992
SCHEDULE A1 - COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: RECOGNITION
DECLARATION OF RECOGNITION
The Parties:
Unite the Union
and
Moreco Group Limited
1. Introduction
1) Unite the Union (the Union) submitted an application to the CAC on 13 November 2025 that it should be recognised for collective bargaining by Moreco Group Ltd (the Employer) for a bargaining unit comprising of “All Moreco Group Limited employees working at or from the Milk and More, Erith Depot save for those employed at Assistant Manager level or above” based at Highland Farm, Brook Street, Erith, Kent, DA8 1DY. The CAC gave both parties notice of receipt of the application on 13 November 2025. The Employer submitted a response to the CAC dated 20 November 2025 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 Mr Paul Swann, Panel Chair, and, as Members, Mr Rob Lummis and Mr Brian Hooper. The Case Manager appointed to support the Panel was Kaniza Bibi.
3) By a decision dated 15 December 2025 the Panel accepted the Union’s application. The parties then entered a period of negotiation in an attempt to reach agreement on the appropriate bargaining unit. As no agreement was reached, the parties were invited to supply the Panel with, and to exchange, written submissions relating to the question of the determination of the appropriate bargaining unit. A hearing was held via Teams on 15 April 2026. In a decision dated 11 May 2026 that Panel found that that the appropriate bargaining unit was that proposed by the Union namely: “All Moreco Group Limited employees working at or from the Milk and More, Erith Depot save for those employed at Assistant Manager level or above” based at Highland Farm, Brook Street, Erith, Kent, DA8 1DY.
4) On 11 May 2026, the Panel not being satisfied that a majority of the workers constituting the bargaining unit were members of the Union, gave notice in accordance with paragraph 23(2) of the Schedule that it intended to arrange for the holding of a secret ballot in which the workers constituting the bargaining unit would be asked whether they wanted the Union to conduct collective bargaining on their behalf. The parties were advised that the Panel would wait until the end of the notification period, as specified in paragraphs 24(2) to (7) of the Schedule, before arranging for the holding of a ballot. The parties were also asked for their views on the form the ballot should take. Both parties requested a postal ballot, and the Panel also agreed that the ballot should be a postal vote.
5) On 1 June 2026 the CAC appointed Mi Voice as the balloting agency (Qualified Independent Person or QIP) to conduct the ballot, and the parties were notified accordingly. The postal ballot papers were dispatched on 16 June 2026 to be returned to the QIP by no later than noon on 29 June 2026.
6) The QIP reported to the CAC on 29 June 2026 that, of the 33 workers eligible to vote, 15 ballot papers had been returned. 11 workers, that is 73.3% of those voting, had voted to support the proposal that the Union be recognised for the purposes of collective bargaining with the Employer. 4 workers, that is 26.7% of those voting, voted to reject the proposal.
7) The CAC informed the Employer and the Union on 01 July 2026 of the result of the ballot in accordance with paragraph 29(2) of the Schedule.
2. Declaration of Recognition
8) The ballot establishes that a majority of the workers voting, support the proposal that the Union should be recognised by the Employer for the purpose of conducting collective bargaining in respect of the bargaining unit. This satisfies the conditions under which the CAC must issue a declaration in favour of recognition in accordance with paragraph 29(3) of the Schedule.
9) The CAC accordingly declares that the Union is recognised by the Employer as entitled to conduct collective bargaining on behalf of the bargaining unit comprising of “All Moreco Group Limited employees working at or from the Milk and More, Erith Depot save for those employed at Assistant Manager level or above” based at Highland Farm, Brook Street, Erith, Kent, DA8 1DY.
Panel
Mr Paul Swann, Panel Chair
Mr Rob Lummis
Mr Brian Hooper
3 July 2026