THE Labour party's plan for compulsory recognition of the union in companies where 50 per cent of the workforce wants it, announced in yesterday, Thursday's manifesto, has been met with mixed reaction in Warrington.

Colin Daniels, chief executive of Warrington Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said ideally recognition of unions should be voluntary, on the part of companies.

He said the main concern was whether or not this was just the tip of the iceberg.

It was what might follow that could be a problem. Social Chapter matters such as increased employee costs for companies might become bigger issues.

Several company spokesmen felt the Labour plan would not have a great deal of impact.

Annette Elwell, a director of Elwell Scaffolding, Warrington, which employs 60 people, said that an increase in union power would not be likely to make much impact on her company.

Employees are already involved in company decision making.

At the moment, only about 10 per cent of the workforce is in the Transport and General Workers' Union.

In the past, most of the workforce were in the union.

"It didn't create any problems then," she said.

"The company has been operating for 22 years. Most people just want to get on with their work," she said.

Rod Bowman, publicity spokesman at Crosfields, said: "We have been in negotiation with trade unions for many years and there are no problems."

At AEA Technology, Risley, which employs 665 people, public relations spokesman, Richard Bailey, said "I don't think our strategy will be altered by any political decisions.

"We are apolitical. We are a modern company with an enlightened view towards stake holders. We are not an old style heirachical organisation."

He said that the company involved employees in decision making and informing employees of decisions.

Ninety eight per cent of employees are shareholders. Some are white collar union members.

Alan Massey, treasurer of the Warrington branch of Unison, said he did not think the proposals for compulsory union recognition would make much difference.

"It is not going to cause a noticeable change. It will not put unions back to the forefront like they used to be."

He added that a lot of major companies already involved their employees in decision making.

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