The union Unite is to take Leeds based housing support charity Gipsil to arbitration amid a dispute over recognition of its members’ collective bargaining rights.

Unite is to refer the charity to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC), which oversees the regulation of UK labour law, after the charity’s “refusal to grant a proper recognition agreement to its unionised workers”.

Unite says that the charity will recognise its members among its workforce “but will not sign an agreement that allows collective bargaining over pay”.

“Gipsil’s suggested recognition agreement with Unite is completely unacceptable,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.

“In its current form, the agreement would not be worth the paper it is written on. Unite will not stand for attempts to undermine our members’ collective bargaining rights and the pretence of an agreement Gipsil wants to sign will not stand.”

Unite regional officer Karl Stephenson added: “In response to the disgraceful agreement put forward by Gipsil, Unite will be taking this dispute to the CAC. Gipsil needs to realise that its attempts to undermine the union will not work.”

Gipsil has been contacted for comment.

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