More recognition successes

Health service union UNISON has signed what it calls a “historic” recognition agreement with Cornwall’s out-of-hours GP service, run by Serco.

The contractor was recently criticised by the National Audit Office for failing on quality requirements in Cornwall. One area of concern was that staff felt unable to report poor practice.

UNISON regional secretary Joanne Kaye said the union would “work with Serco to ensure that employees felt they could ‘blow the whistle’ in a safe and supportive environment”.

Meanwhile, two unions achieved recognition recently through the statutory procedure. Shops and distribution union USDAW was awarded recognition at Randall Parker Foods in Andover after 59% of workers voted in favour in a ballot. And general union Unite gained bargaining rights at Fowler Welch-Coolchain in Washington, Tyne and Wear, following a 69% vote in favour by staff.