Decision

Recognition Decision

Updated 6 July 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Case Number: TUR1/1510(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 Central Arbitration Committee (the CAC) on 14 November 2025 that it should be recognised for collective bargaining by Moreco Group Limited (the Employer) for a bargaining unit comprising of “All Moreco Group Limited employees working at or from the Milk and More Ipswich Depot (9 Boss Hall Rd, Ipswich IP1 5BN) save for those employed at Assistant Manager Level or above”. The CAC gave both parties notice of receipt of the application on 14 November 2025. The Employer submitted a response to the CAC dated 21 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 Stuart Robertson, Panel Chair, and, as members Mr David Cadger and Mr Nigel Cotgrove. On 29 June 2026, Mr Nigel Cotgrove was replaced by Mr Ian Hanson as the relevant Panel member. The Case Manager appointed to support the Panel was Kaniza Bibi.

3)         By a decision dated 17 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 to decide that issue was held remotely via Microsoft Teams before a differently constituted Panel 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 Ipswich Depot (9 Boss Hall Rd, Ipswich IP1 5BN) save for those employed at Assistant Manager Level or above.”

4)         Also 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 Kanto Elect as the balloting agency (the Qualified Independent Person (the 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 42 workers eligible to vote, 15 ballot papers had been returned. 12 workers, that is 80% of those voting, had voted to support the proposal that the Union be recognised for the purposes of collective bargaining with the Employer. three workers, that is 20% 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 Ipswich Depot (9 Boss Hall Rd, Ipswich IP1 5BN) save for those employed at Assistant Manager Level or above.”

Panel

Mr Stuart Robertson, Panel Chair

Mr David Cadger

Mr Ian Hanson QPM

03 July 2026