More Vodafone staff get union rights

Vodafone has signed a deal with telecoms union Connect to give formal union rights to hundreds of its employees.

The deal will cover around 500 Vodafone staff working across the UK for the mobile giant's regional operations department - which keeps its network up and running.

The union will have the formal rights to negotiate on behalf of its members within this part of the company on issues such as pay, holiday and the working hours.

Adrian Askew, Connect's general secretary, said in a statement: "Our members in Vodafone's regional operations are delighted to finally secure a place at the negotiating table with their employer. Today's announcement will also give hope to people working across the telecoms and IT industry that they can win a genuinely independent voice at work."

Around 200 Vodafone staff working in the company's regional operations North unit also gained union recognition in July of this year.