The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

87.—(1) This paragraph applies if— N.I.

(a) the Court decides both the questions in paragraph 86(2) in the affirmative, and

(b) the Court is satisfied that a majority of the workers constituting the new unit are members of the union (or unions).

(2) The Court must issue a declaration that the union is (or unions are) recognised as entitled to conduct collective bargaining on behalf of the workers constituting the new unit.

(3) But if any of the three qualifying condition is fulfilled, instead of issuing a declaration under sub-paragraph (2) the Court must give notice to the parties that it intends to arrange for the holding of a secret ballot in which the workers constituting the new unit are asked whether they want the union (or unions) to conduct collective bargaining on their behalf.

(4) These are the three qualifying conditions—

(a) the Court is satisfied that a ballot should be held in the interests of good industrial relations;

[F1 (b) the Court has evidence, which it considers to be credible, from a significant number of the union members within the new bargaining unit that they do not want the union (or unions) to conduct collective bargaining on their behalf;]

(c) membership evidence is produced which leads the Court to conclude that there are doubts whether a significant number of the union members within the new unit want the union (or unions) to conduct collective bargaining on their behalf.

(5) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (4)(c) membership evidence is—

(a) evidence about the circumstances in which union members became members;

(b) evidence about the length of time for which union members have been members, in a case where the Court is satisfied that such evidence should be taken into account.

(6) If the Court issues a declaration under sub-paragraph (2)—

(a) so far as it affects workers in the new unit who fall within the original unit, the declaration shall have effect in place of any declaration that the union is (or unions are) recognised as entitled to conduct collective bargaining on behalf of the original unit;

(b) the method of collective bargaining relating to the original unit shall have effect in relation to the new unit, with any modifications which the Court considers necessary to take account of the change of bargaining unit and specifies in the declaration.

F1 2004 NI 19