As of 6 April 2026, the statutory recognition scheme is being reshaped under the new Employment Rights Act, introducing several key changes. Unions will no longer need to demonstrate that most workers in a proposed bargaining unit are likely to support recognition, removing the requirement for petitions or similar evidence. When recognition is decided by ballot, unions will only need a simple majority of votes cast, with the former 40% support requirement removed.
As part of those changes, the CAC Application under Part 1 of Schedule A1 to the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and Response have been updated and should be used for all new applications submitted on or after 00:00 on 6 April 2026. Any applications submitted without the required request letter and employer response (if any) will be rejected.