Trade union Unite has won the latest stage in its three-year battle with the College of Law over recognition.


Unite had applied to the college for recognition as the trade union responsible for negotiating over pay and other employment issues, but was refused. Unite then took the case to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC), an independent body with statutory powers to adjudicate on such applications.



The CAC ruled earlier this month that Unite could ballot college staff - including lecturers - and, if 50% or more voted in favour, it would be granted statutory recognition requiring the college to negotiate with it.



The union has been critical of the pay awards granted by the college. National officer for higher education Mike Robinson said: 'The college has not met the 13.1% pay rise over three years that we have negotiated for the rest of the sector. And even the 5% they have agreed during this pay round only applies to the select few.'



Professor Nigel Savage, the college's chief executive, said his organisation offered a more attractive remuneration package than the university sector. Explaining why the dispute had lasted three years, he said: 'Unite applied for recognition, but wouldn't tell us how many of our staff were already members. We needed to be sure there was a genuine appetite to be represented by Unite. And since the numbers were unforthcoming, we refused.'



Mr Savage insisted that the University & College Union was the appropriate union for his staff - not Unite, which was merged with the Transport and General Workers Union.



Jonathan Rayner