Workers at charity Victim Support who claim they were "bullied" because they wanted membership of a trade union have won their fight for union recognition following a major ruling.

Unite, Britain's biggest union, is claiming victory after staff at Shipley-based Victim Support West Yorkshire (VSWY) were allowed to become its members.

In a statement, Unite claimed that previously the charity's employees attempting to raise union matters at the Shipley branch were subject to "bullying and undue scrutiny".

The decision to allow workers to have union representation follows a series of discussions before the Central Arbitration Council.

In its statement, Unite said: "The union was not allowed anywhere near any of the VSWY sites to recruit. Some members who showed support for the union claim they were subjected to undue scrutiny and bullying.

"Despite this hostility and objections from the employer, Unite's membership rose to 72 per cent in just a few months.

"Unite made a number of attempts to obtain a voluntary agreement in 2007 but these approaches were met with strong resistance at every step.

"In addition, the employer commenced rigorous restructuring that meant many union members were being made redundant or left on their own accord."

Unite's Regional Officer, Justine McCarthy said: "This is a huge win for Unite members at Victim Support West Yorkshire.

"They will now enjoy the benefits of union recognition, including collective rights, trained union representatives and the opportunity for better pay, pensions, holiday and sick pay.

"Staff have wanted a collective union presence here for a long time."

The national Victim Support federation acknowledged the ruling of the Arbitration Council but refused to comment on any of the allegations of bullying or undue pressure.

A spokesman said they were a matter for West Yorkshire Victim Support - an independent charity - to investigate.

In a statement, she said: "Victim Support West Yorkshire is an independent charity run by its own board of trustees.

"It is a member of the Victim Support national federation, but West Yorkshire staff are employed by the Trustees of West Yorkshire Victim Support.

"Because we have been a federation for most of our history, we were not in a position to have a single union recognition agreement nationally.

"We are now in the process of merging 78 of these Victim Support charities around England and Wales and are currently doing work to develop a national position for union recognition."

e-mail: marc.meneaud @telegraphandargus.co.uk