Voluntary Recognition Agreement Signed at Johnson Matthey Swindon

We are excited to announce that we have entered a voluntary recognition agreement at the Johnson Matthey Hydrogen Technologies site in Swindon. Effective from 1st April 2026, this partnership establishes a formal framework in which Community members can collectively bargain around policy and conditions.

Who is covered by this Recognition Agreement?

The agreement defines a specific bargaining unit consisting of all non-leadership, non-management, and non-supervisory shopfloor workers permanently employed at the Swindon site. The representational scope includes a wide range of technical and operational roles, such as:

• Production and Warehouse Operators
• Technicians (including PGM, R&D, Engineering, and Laboratory)
• Facilities and Maintenance Engineers
• Quality and Material Controllers

Caroline Taylor, National Secretary at Community said:

Community is delighted to move forward working in partnership with Johnson Matthey Swindon and build on the positive relationship we already have.

What does the Recognition Agreement mean for members on the site?

Community now holds sole recognition rights for collective bargaining on-site regarding facilities and negotiations. This includes:

• Resolving Disputes: To ensure the rapid settlement of collective concerns, Community and Johnson Matthey have agreed to a four-stage procedure — moving from immediate supervisors and department managers to senior leadership and potential ACAS mediation — before any industrial action or balloting can be initiated.
• Pay negotiations: If Community demonstrates over 50% membership on-site with ACAS, we will meet with Johnson Matthey to discuss extending bargaining rights to include pay.
• Consultation: Johnson Matthey will consult Community around TUPE and redundancies, as well as fundamental changes to working arrangements and policy change. 
• Representation: Two Community Representatives — one for the early shift, and one for the late shift will be elected to represent our bargaining unit on-site. These individuals may also serve as Health and Safety, Learning, and Equality representatives.

Ben Miller, Operations Director at Johnson Matthey said:

We are pleased to share that we will be recognising Community Union at the Swindon site on a voluntary basis, building on the positive working relationship we already have with Community at our Royston and Brimsdown sites.  We look forward to continuing our partnership as we move ahead together.

This voluntary agreement reflects a shared dedication to an environment where employee relations are a priority. We already have positive working relations with Johnson Matthey at a number of their existing sites and look forward to working together to support our members in Swindon.