Recognition Decision
Updated 4 March 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-surface-transforms-plc/recognition-decision
Case Number: TUR1/1490(2025)
04 March 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
Surface Transforms plc
1. Introduction
1) Unite the Union (the Union) submitted an application to the CAC on 28 August 2025 that it should be recognised for collective bargaining by Surface Transforms plc (the Employer) for a bargaining unit comprising of “All hourly paid employees, From Goods In to Dispatch” based at Knowlsey Industrial Estate, Liverpool, L33 7UF. The Employer submitted a response to the CAC dated 2 September 2025.
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 Susan Cox, Panel Chair, and, as Members, Ms Julia Buck and Mr Christopher Burrows. The Case Manager appointed to support the Panel was Kaniza Bibi.
3) By a decision dated 29 September 2025 the Panel accepted the Union’s application. In the Employer’s response dated 2 September 2025 it had confirmed that it agreed to the bargaining unit as proposed by the Union in its application.
4) On 15 October 2025, 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 Schedule A1 to the Act (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 Panel decided that in this case the ballot should be fully postal.
5) On 9 December 2025 the CAC appointed Popularis Ltd as the balloting agency (Qualified Independent Person or QIP) to conduct the ballot, and the parties were notified accordingly. However, on 17 December 2025 the Union complained that the Employer had failed to comply with its duties in relation to the ballot. After a hearing on 16 January 2026 and in a decision promulgated 30 January 2026, the Panel concluded that the Union’s complaint that the Employer had failed to meet its duty to provide reasonable access was not well-founded. The Panel informed the parties that the ballot would resume, and the parties were duly informed of the amended timetable for the ballot. The postal ballot papers were dispatched on 9 February 2026 to be returned to the QIP by no later than noon on 16 February 2026.
6) The QIP reported to the CAC on 27 February 2026 that of the 86 workers eligible to vote, 50 ballot papers had been returned. No ballot paper was found to be spoiled or otherwise invalid. 50 workers, that is 100% of those voting, had voted to support the proposal that the Union be recognised for the purposes of collective bargaining with the Employer. The number of votes supporting the proposal as a percentage of the bargaining unit was 58%.
7) The CAC informed the Employer and the Union on 3 March 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, and at least 40% of the workers constituting the bargaining unit, 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 “All hourly paid employees, From Goods In to Dispatch” based at Knowlsey Industrial Estate, Liverpool, L33 7UF.
Panel
Ms Susan Cox, Panel Chair
Ms Julia Buck
Mr Christopher Burrows
04 March 2026