The Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1987

Awards against third parties

9.  For Article 38A of the No. 1 Order (contribution in respect of compensation) there shall be substituted—

Awards against third parties

38A.(1) If in proceedings before an industrial tribunal on a complaint against an employer under Article 29 either the employer or the complainant claims—

(a)that the employer was induced to dismiss the complainant by pressure which a trade union or other person exercised on the employer by calling, organising, procuring or financing a strike or other industrial action, or by threatening to do so; and

(b)that the pressure was exercised because the complainant was not a member of any trade union or of a particular trade union or of one of a number of particular trade unions, the employer or the complainant may request the tribunal to direct that the person who he claims exercised the pressure be joined as a party to the proceedings.

(2) A request under paragraph (1) shall be granted if it is made before the hearing of the complaint begins, but may be refused if it is made after that time; and no such request may be made after the tribunal has made an order under Article 31 or an award under Article 32(5).

(3) Where a person has been joined as a party to proceedings before an industrial tribunal by virtue of paragraph (1) and the tribunal—

(a)makes an award of compensation under Article 32(2)(a) or (b) or (5); but

(b)finds that the claim mentioned in paragraph (1) is well-founded, the award may be made against that person instead of against the employer, or partly against that person and partly against the employer, as the tribunal may consider just and equitable in the circumstances..