Employment Protection Act 1975

21 Determination of claim and award

(1) On or after presenting a further complaint under section 20 above, the trade union may present to the Committee, in writing, a claim in respect of one or more descriptions of employees (but not workers who are not employees) specified in the claim that their contracts should include the terms and conditions specified in the claim.

(2) The right to present a claim under subsection (1) above shall expire, or, as the case may be, a claim so presented shall be treated as withdrawn, if at any time before the Committee makes an award under this section the employer discloses, or, as the case may be, confirms in writing, to representatives of the trade union the information specified in the declaration under section 19(6)(a) or, as the case may be, section 20(4) above.

(3) If the Committee finds, or has found, the further complaint wholly or partly well-founded, it may, after hearing the parties, make an award that in respect of any description of employees specified in the claim the employer shall, from a specified date, observe either—

(a) the terms and conditions specified in the claim; or

(b) other terms and conditions which the Committee considers appropriate.

(4) The date specified in an award under subsection (3) above may be a date earlier than that on which the award is made but shall not be earlier than the date specified in accordance with section 19(6)(b) above in the declaration made by the Committee on the original complaint.

(5) An award under subsection (3) above shall be made only in respect of a description of employees, and shall comprise only terms and conditions relating to matters.—

(a) in respect of which the trade union making the claim is recognised by the employer; or

(b) which fall within the scope of an operative recommendation for recognition (within the meaning of section 15 above) relating to the trade union making the claim.

(6) Any terms and conditions which by an award under this section the employer is required to observe in respect of employees of his shall have effect as part of the contract of employment of any such employee, as from the date specified in the award, except in so far as they are superseded or varied—

(a) by a subsequent award under this section ;

(b) by a collective agreement between the employer and the union for the time being representing that employee; or

(c) by express or implied agreement between the employee and the employer so far as that agreement effects an improvement in any terms and conditions having effect by virtue of the award.

(7) Where—

(a) by virtue of any enactment, other than one contained in this section, providing for minimum remuneration or terms and conditions, a contract of employment is to have effect as modified by an award, order or other instrument under that enactment; and

(b) by virtue of an award under this section any terms and conditions are to have effect as part of that contract,

that contract shall have effect in accordance with that award, order or other instrument or in accordance with the award under this section, whichever is the more favourable, in respect of any terms and conditions of that contract, to the employee.

(8) No award shall be made under this section in respect of any terms and conditions of employment which are fixed by virtue of any enactment.