Statutory Recognition – if an employer does not voluntarily recognise it, a Trade Union may apply to the Industrial Court for the legal right to be recognised by an employer for collective bargaining over pay, hours and holidays, in respect of a group of workers in a particular “bargaining unit”.
The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 gives employees in larger undertakings rights to be informed and consulted on a regular basis about issues in the business which they work for.
The statutory provisions found in the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 which relate to collective bargaining.
Article 84 of the Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 provides that where a trade dispute exists, the parties to that dispute may request the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) to refer all or any of the matters in dispute to the Court for settlement by way of arbitration.
The Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 1999 were commenced on 15 January 2000 to give effect in the UK to the European Union (EU) Directive requiring certain EU-wide undertakings to establish EWC’s for the purposes of informing and consulting employees.
The Industrial Court can determine disputes arising under European Company statute.