Recognition Decision
Updated 16 September 2026
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
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Case Number: TUR1/1571(2026)
15 September 2026
CENTRAL ARBITRATION COMMITTEE
TRADE UNION AND LABOUR RELATIONS (CONSOLIDATION) ACT 1992
SCHEDULE A1 - COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: RECOGNITION
DECLARATION THAT THE UNION IS NOT ENTITLED TO BE RECOGNISED
The Parties:
URTU
and
STEF Langdons Ltd
1. Introduction
1) URTU (the Union) submitted an application to the CAC on 15 May 2026 that it should be recognised for collective bargaining by STEF Langdons Ltd (the Employer) for a bargaining unit comprising of “ Drivers & Shunters”. The location of the bargaining unit was given as “Great Cliffe Road, Dodworth, Barnsley, S75 3SP”. The CAC gave both parties notice of receipt of the application on 15 May 2026. The Employer submitted a response to the CAC dated 28 May 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 Mrs Lisa Gettins, Panel Chair, and, as Members, Mr Alastair Kelly and Mr Morris Stemp. The Case Manager appointed to support the Panel was Kaniza Bibi.
3) By a decision dated 8 June 2026 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. In an email dated 8 June 2026 the Employer confirmed it agreed with the proposed bargaining unit.
4) On 9 June 2026, the Panel, satisfied that a majority of the workers constituting the bargaining unit were not 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 also advised the parties that it would wait until the end of the notification period of ten working days, as specified in paragraph 24(5), before arranging a secret ballot.
5) The notification period under paragraph 24(5) of the Schedule ended on 23 June 2026. The CAC was not notified by either of the parties that they did not want a ballot to be held, as per paragraph 24(2). The parties were also asked for their views on the form the ballot should take place and both parties agreed to a combination ballot that is a workplace ballot with a postal element for those workers known in advance to be absent from the workplace on the day of the ballot.
6) The Panel directed that Mi-Voice should be appointed as the Qualified Independent Person (QIP) to conduct the ballot.
2. The Ballot
7) Mi-Voice was appointed as QIP on 27 July 2026 to conduct the ballot and the parties were notified accordingly. The postal ballot papers were despatched on 11 August 2026, to be returned by no later than noon on 3 September 2026, the day that the ballot closed.
8) The QIP reported to the CAC on 3 September 2026 that out of 92 workers eligible to vote, 85 ballot papers had been returned, and no ballot papers were found to be spoiled. Of the 85 valid votes, 47 workers (55.3% of those voting) voted against the proposal that the Union be recognised for the purposes of collective bargaining, while 38 workers (44.7% of those voting) voted in favour. As the number of workers voting against recognition exceeded 50% of those voting, the proposal that the Union be recognised was rejected.
9) The CAC informed the Employer and the Union on 3 September 2026 of the result of the ballot in accordance with paragraph 29(2) of the Schedule.
3. Declaration that the Union is not entitled to be recognised
10) The ballot establishes that recognition of the Union is not supported by a majority of the workers voting and so, in accordance with paragraph 29(4) of the Schedule, the CAC declares that the Union is not recognised as entitled to conduct collective bargaining on behalf of the bargaining unit.
Panel
Mrs Lisa Gettins, Panel Chair
Mr Alastair Kelly
Mr Morris Stemp
15 September 2026