Unite Restores Union Recognition at Three Milk & More Depots in UK

Unite, a prominent British trade union, has successfully re-established statutory recognition at three key Milk & More depots located in Erith, Ipswich, and Watford. This achievement comes less than a year after Milk & More terminated its national voluntary recognition agreement with Unite and USDAW, another union representing shopworkers. The termination was finalized in October 2025, following an initial announcement in April 2025.

In response to the termination, Unite initiated a comprehensive organizing campaign aimed at rebuilding union representation within Milk & More. The union adopted a statutory approach by filing separate applications with the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) to seek recognition. Throughout this process, Milk & More opposed the applications, challenging the proposed bargaining units, which led to a full hearing by the CAC.

After the hearing, the CAC approved Unite's proposed bargaining units across all three depots, paving the way for independent recognition ballots. Workers at the Erith, Ipswich, and Watford depots subsequently voted in favor of having Unite conduct collective bargaining on their behalf.

This development ensures that workers at these depots will now have union backing in negotiations concerning pay, workplace conditions, health and safety representation, and general workplace advice. The decision marks a significant victory for Unite in reinstating collective bargaining rights for its members at these locations.