Exemption of certain persons nearing retirement
25.—(1) Article 12(1)(b) (requirement of re-election) does not apply to a person holding a position to which this Part applies if the following conditions are satisfied.
(2) The conditions are that—
(a)he holds the position by virtue of having been elected at an election in relation to which the requirements of this Part were satisfied,
(b)he is a full-time employee of the union by virtue of the position,
(c)he will reach retirement age within five years,
(d)he is entitled under the rules of the union to continue as the holder of the position until retirement age without standing for re-election,
(e)he has been a full-time employee of the union for a period (which need not be continuous) of at least ten years, and
(f)the period between the day on which the election referred to in sub-paragraph (a) took place and the day immediately preceding that on which sub-paragraph (c) is first satisfied does not exceed five years.
(3) For the purposes of this Article “retirement age”, in relation to any person, means the earlier of—
(a)the age fixed by, or in accordance with, the rules of the union for him to retire from the position in question, or
(b)the age which is for the time being pensionable age for the purpose of Parts I to VI of theSocial Security (Contributions and Benefits) (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(1).