Employment Relations Bill - continued        House of Lords
SCHEDULE A1, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING: RECOGNITION - continued

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  PART VI
  DERECOGNITION WHERE UNION NOT INDEPENDENT
 
Introduction
     111. - (1) This Part of this Schedule applies if-
 
 
    (a) an employer and a union (or unions) have agreed that the union is (or unions are) recognised as entitled to conduct collective bargaining on behalf of a group or groups of workers, and
 
    (b) the union does not have (or none of the unions has) a certificate under section 6 that it is independent.
      (2) In such a case references in this Part of this Schedule to the bargaining arrangements are to-
 
 
    (a) the parties' agreement mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a), and
 
    (b) any agreement between the parties as to the method by which they will conduct collective bargaining.
     112. In this Part of this Schedule-
 
 
    (a) references to the parties are to the employer and the union (or unions);
 
    (b) references to the bargaining unit are to the group of workers referred to in paragraph 111(1)(a) (or the groups taken together).
     113. The meaning of collective bargaining given by section 178(1) shall not apply in relation to this Part of this Schedule.
 
 
Workers' application to end arrangements
     114. - (1) A worker or workers falling within the bargaining unit may apply to the CAC to have the bargaining arrangements ended.
 
      (2) An application is not admissible unless-
 
 
    (a) it is made in such form as the CAC specifies, and
 
    (b) it is supported by such documents as the CAC specifies.
      (3) An application is not admissible unless the worker gives (or workers give) to the employer and to the union (or each of the unions)-
 
 
    (a) notice of the application, and
 
    (b) a copy of the application and any documents supporting it.
     115. - (1) An application under paragraph 114 is not admissible unless the CAC decides that-
 
 
    (a) at least 10 per cent of the workers constituting the bargaining unit favour an end of the bargaining arrangements, and
 
    (b) a majority of the workers constituting the bargaining unit would be likely to favour an end of the bargaining arrangements.
      (2) The CAC must give reasons for the decision.
 
     116. - (1) The CAC must give notice to the worker (or workers), the employer and the union (or unions) of receipt of an application under paragraph 114.
 
      (2) Within the acceptance period the CAC must decide whether the application is admissible within the terms of paragraphs 114 and 115.
 
      (3) In deciding whether the application is admissible the CAC must consider any evidence which it has been given by the employer, the union (or unions) or any of the workers falling within the bargaining unit.
 
      (4) If the CAC decides that the application is not admissible-
 
 
    (a) the CAC must give notice of its decision to the worker (or workers), the employer and the union (or unions),
 
    (b) the CAC must not accept the application, and
 
    (c) no further steps are to be taken under this Part of this Schedule.
      (5) If the CAC decides that the application is admissible it must-
 
 
    (a) accept the application, and
 
    (b) give notice of the acceptance to the worker (or workers), the employer and the union (or unions).
      (6) The acceptance period is-
 
 
    (a) the period of 10 working days starting with the day after that on which the CAC receives the application, or
 
    (b) such longer period (so starting) as the CAC may specify to the worker (or workers), the employer and the union (or unions) by notice containing reasons for the extension.
     117. - (1) If the CAC accepts the application, in the negotiation period the CAC must help the employer, the union (or unions) and the worker (or workers) with a view to-
 
 
    (a) the employer and the union (or unions) agreeing to end the bargaining arrangements, or
 
    (b) the worker (or workers) withdrawing the application.
      (2) The negotiation period is-
 
 
    (a) the period of 20 working days starting with the day after that on which the CAC gives notice of acceptance of the application, or
 
    (b) such longer period (so starting) as the CAC may decide with the consent of the worker (or workers), the employer and the union (or unions).
 
Ballot on derecognition
     118. - (1) Paragraph 95 applies if-
 
 
    (a) the CAC accepts an application under paragraph 114, and
 
    (b) in the period mentioned in paragraph 117(1) there is no agreement or withdrawal as there described
  (as well as in the cases mentioned in paragraph 95(1) and (2)).
 
      (2) Paragraphs 96 to 99 apply accordingly, but as if-
 
 
    (a) the reference in paragraph 97(3)(a) to paragraph 91 were to paragraph 91 or 114;
 
    (b) the reference in paragraph 99(4) to paragraph 86, 87 or 91 were to paragraph 86, 87, 91 or 114.
 
Derecognition: other cases
     119. - (1) This paragraph applies if as a result of a declaration by the CAC another union is (or other unions are) recognised as entitled to conduct collective bargaining on behalf of a group of workers at least one of whom falls within the bargaining unit.
 
      (2) The CAC must issue a declaration that the bargaining arrangements are to cease to have effect on a date specified by the CAC in the declaration.
 
      (3) If a declaration is issued under sub-paragraph (2) the bargaining arrangements shall cease to have effect accordingly.
 
      (4) It is for the CAC to decide whether sub-paragraph (1) is fulfilled, but in deciding the CAC may take account of the views of any person it believes has an interest in the matter.
 
  PART VII
  LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE
 
Introduction
     120. - (1) This Part of this Schedule applies if the CAC has issued a declaration that a union is (or unions are) recognised as entitled to conduct collective bargaining on behalf of a bargaining unit.
 
      (2) In such a case references in this Part of this Schedule to the bargaining arrangements are to the declaration and to the provisions relating to the collective bargaining method.
 
      (3) For this purpose the provisions relating to the collective bargaining method are-
 
 
    (a) the parties' agreement as to the method by which collective bargaining is to be conducted,
 
    (b) anything effective as, or as if contained in, a legally enforceable contract and relating to the method by which collective bargaining is to be conducted, or
 
    (c) any provision of Part III of this Schedule that a method of collective bargaining is to have effect.
 
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Prepared 17 June 1999