Workers at a wind turbine parts factory have won the right to union recognition.
The government’s central arbitration committee accepted an application by the GMB union for SeAH Wind Ltd workers at Teesworks, near Redcar, after concluding that enough workers wanted to be in a union.
The company, which builds wind turbine monopiles, had refused voluntary recognition because the factory was not yet fully operational.
The GMB said the “historic victory” meant the business would be the first at Teesworks to be unionised. SeAH has been contacted for comment.
The manufacturing firm, owned by South Korea’s SeAH Steel Holding, broke ground at Teesworks in 2022.
It has received hundreds of millions of pounds in investment to help address the growing demand for green energy.
The bargaining unit would comprise of “all hourly paid manual workers employed at SeAH Wind Ltd Teesside”, the application stated.
The application was accepted in a ruling on Thursday.
GMB Organiser Andy Blunt said: “This is a major breakthrough for workers’ rights at SeAh and should send a clear message to all employers working out of Teesworks – trade union recognition is not an optional extra.”
The GMB said SeAH had 20 days to reach an agreement.