Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992

Interpretation

119 Expressions relating to trade unions

In this Act, in relation to a trade union—

• “branch or section”, except where the context otherwise requires, includes a branch or section which is itself a trade union;

• “executive” means the principal committee of the union exercising executive functions, by whatever name it is called;

• “general secretary” means the official of the union who holds the office of general secretary or, where there is no such office, holds an office which is equivalent, or (except in section 14(4)) the nearest equivalent, to that of general secretary;

• “officer” includes—

  (a)

  any member of the governing body of the union, and

  (b)

  any trustee of any fund applicable for the purposes of the union;

• “official” means—

  (a)

  an officer of the union or of a branch or section of the union, or

  (b)

  a person elected or appointed in accordance with the rules of the union to be a representative of its members or of some of them,

  and includes a person so elected or appointed who is an employee of the same employer as the members or one or more of the members whom he is to represent;

• “president” means the official of the union who holds the office of president or, where there is no such office, who holds an office which is equivalent, or (except in section 14(4) or Chapter IV) the nearest equivalent, to that of president; and

• “rules”, except where the context otherwise requires, includes the rules of any branch or section of the union.

120 Northern Ireland unions

In this Part a “Northern Ireland union” means a trade union whose principal office is situated in Northern Ireland.

121 Meaning of “the court”

In this Part “the court” (except where the reference is expressed to be to the county court or sheriff court) means the High Court or the Court of Session.