Draft code of practice: Access and unfair practices during ballots for trade union recognition and derecognition

Summary:

This consultation document invites views and comments from interested parties on the Draft Code of Practice: Access and Unfair Practices during Ballots for Trade Union Recognition and Derecognition. The Employment Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 gained Royal Assent on 17 November 2004. Schedule 1 to the Order amends aspects of the statutory procedure for the recognition or derecognition of trade unions for collective bargaining purposes. These changes include measures: 1. to revise the obligations on employers to provide the union with access to the workers in the bargaining unit during the period of a recognition (or derecognition) ballot (see Schedule 1, paragraph 9 to the Order); and 2. to prohibit the use of 'unfair practices' by either the employer or the union during the period of such ballots (see Schedule 1, paragraphs 10 and 13 to the Order). 'Unfair practices' are defined by the Order, but in general terms they include actions to bribe, coerce or unduly influence workers within the bargaining unit, which are taken with a view to influencing the outcome of a ballot. The Department for Employment and Learning plans to bring these provisions into operation by Spring 2005. Date of Publication: 14 Jan 2005 Consultation Period runs until: 08 Apr 2005

Publish Date:

14 January 2005

Availability:

This document is available to download by following the link below or by writing to: