The Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) has released its Annual Report for the financial year concluding 31 March 2026, revealing a notable surge in trade union recognition applications across the UK. The independent body, which plays a critical role in collective employment relations, saw a 21% increase in such applications, rising from 63 in the previous year to 76.
These figures underscore the continued importance of statutory recognition procedures, which form the bulk of the CAC's workload. The report also detailed amendments within the Employment Rights Bill, specifically those affecting Schedule A1, indicating future changes and potential new responsibilities for the committee. Stephen Redmond chairs the CAC, an independent Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) supported by Acas.
Despite the increased demand, the CAC has largely maintained its operational efficiency. However, the average time taken to conclude a Part 1 statutory recognition case, from initial application to a declaration of recognition or non-recognition, saw a slight increase. Cases were concluded in an average of 25 weeks, up from 22 weeks in the preceding year.
Customer satisfaction remains a strong point for the CAC, with an impressive 96% of respondents expressing overall satisfaction with how their cases were handled. This indicates the committee's success in managing its responsibilities while dealing with a growing number of disputes and applications.
Beyond union recognition, the CAC's remit includes handling complaints related to the disclosure of information under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, as well as disputes concerning European Works Councils Regulations and the Information and Consultation Regulations 2004. While it also offers voluntary arbitration in collective employment disputes, this service has not been utilised in recent years.