Union communications with workers after acceptance of application
Employment Relations Bill
10:45 am
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk, Conservative)
Presumably, we are talking about members of those particular groups. It would therefore be useful to know how many people there are to choose from. However splendid those people might be, it is possible that the employer, the relevant union or the employees might not be happy with the individual in question. If that were the case, it would be fair for the CAC to accept their opinion and to appoint someone different.
The amendment would give complete parity. It is constructive, pragmatic and fair. It does not detract from subsection (1) and the subsections related to it, but would add two extra subsections that made the appointment procedure much fairer. I doubt that the provision will be used, except in extreme circumstances. However, in some cases, there might be controversy surrounding an individual and, if so, why should not unions, employees or employers be able to object?
On subsection (9), we ask that the CAC should at all times provide a list of persons considered to be suitable and make that list available to all concerned. The Minister might say that that list is available anyway, but the amendment would ensure that that was the case.