The Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1992

Prohibition on union recognition requirements

28.—(1) Any term or condition of a contract for the supply of goods or services is void in so far as it purports to require any party to the contract—

(a) to recognise one or more trade unions (whether or not named in the contract) for the purpose of negotiating on behalf of workers, or any class of worker, employed by him; or

(b) to negotiate or consult with, or with any official of, one or more trade unions (whether or not so named).

(2) A person contravenes this paragraph if, on the ground of union exclusion, he acts in a manner falling within paragraph (2)(a), (b) or (c) of Article 27.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), a person acts on the ground of union exclusion if the ground or one of the grounds for his action is that the person against whom it is taken does not, or is not likely to, recognise, negotiate or consult as mentioned in paragraph (1).

(4) Paragraph (2) does not create an offence but the obligation to comply with it is a duty owed to each of the following—

(a) the person against whom the action is taken; and

(b) any other person who may be adversely affected by the contravention,

and any breach of that duty shall be actionable accordingly (subject to the defences and other incidents applying to actions for breach of statutory duty).