The Employment Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

Determination of appropriate bargaining unit

4.  For paragraph 19 of Schedule 1A to the 1995 Order substitute—

“19.— (1) This paragraph applies if—

(a) the Court accepts an application under paragraph 11(2) or 12(2),

(b) the parties have not agreed an appropriate bargaining unit at the end of the appropriate period (defined by paragraph 18), and

(c) at the end of that period either no request under paragraph 19A(1)(b) has been made or such a request has been made but the condition in paragraph 19A(1)(c) has not been met.

(2) Within the decision period, the Court must decide whether the proposed bargaining unit is appropriate.

(3) If the Court decides that the proposed bargaining unit is not appropriate, it must also decide within the decision period a bargaining unit which is appropriate.

(4) The decision period is—

(a) the period of 10 working days starting with the day after that with which the appropriate period ends, or

(b) such longer period (so starting) as the Court may specify to the parties by notice containing reasons for the extension.

19A.— (1) This paragraph applies if—

(a) the Court accepts an application under paragraph 11(2) or 12(2),

(b) during the appropriate period (defined by paragraph 18), the Court is requested by the union (or unions) to make a decision under this paragraph, and

(c) the Court is, either at the time the request is made or at a later time during the appropriate period, of the opinion that the employer has failed to comply with the duty imposed by paragraph 18A.

(2) Within the decision period, the Court must decide whether the proposed bargaining unit is appropriate.

(3) If the Court decides that the proposed bargaining unit is not appropriate, it must also decide within the decision period a bargaining unit which is appropriate.

(4) The decision period is—

(a) the period of 10 working days starting with the day after the day on which the request is made, or

(b) such longer period (so starting) as the Court may specify to the parties by notice containing reasons for the extension.

19B.— (1) This paragraph applies if the Court has to decide whether a bargaining unit is appropriate for the purposes of paragraph 19(2) or (3) or 19A(2) or (3).

(2) The Court must take these matters into account—

(a) the need for the unit to be compatible with effective management;

(b) the matters listed in sub-paragraph (3), so far as they do not conflict with that need.

(3) The matters are—

(a) the views of the employer and of the union (or unions);

(b) existing national and local bargaining arrangements;

(c) the desirability of avoiding small fragmented bargaining units within an undertaking;

(d) the characteristics of workers falling within the bargaining unit under consideration and of any other employees of the employer whom the Court considers relevant;

(e) the location of workers.

(4) In taking an employer’s views into account for the purpose of deciding whether the proposed bargaining unit is appropriate, the Court must take into account any view the employer has about any other bargaining unit that he considers would be appropriate.

(5) The Court must give notice of its decision to the parties.”.