Trade Unions

Registration of a trade union

Any 7 or more members of a trade union or employers’ association, or any official of the union or association duly authorised for the purpose, may apply to the Registrar General in the prescribed form (form 2) for registration of the trade union or employers’ association. Prescribed fees for registration will apply. Accompanying the application there will need to be provided a copy of the rules of the trade union or employers’ association, signed by the applicants.

In the case of a United Kingdom trade union, the application shall include an undertaking by the union to comply with any order, award, injunction, direction or other judgment (whether interim or final) in any proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Island to which the union is a party.

If the Registrar General deems the application to be satisfactory the trade union’s or employers’ association details are entered in the appropriate register, and a certificate of registration in the prescribed form issued to the applicants.

The register for trade unions shall include the following particulars —

(a) the name of the trade union or employers’ association;

(b) the name and address in the Island of an official of the trade union or employers’ association who is resident in the Island;

(c) an address in the Island for the service of notices and other proceedings on the trade union or employers’ association; and

(d) such other particulars as may be prescribed.

The Trade Union’s register is available for inspection upon request in the Public Area of the Central Registry.

Amendment of registration

Any 7 or more members of a registered trade union or registered employers’ association, or any official of the union or association duly authorised, may apply to the Registrar General for the amendment of the register (form 4) —

(a) on any change in the particulars entered in the register in relation to the union or association; and

(b) on any amendment of the rules of the union or association

Annual returns

Every trade union or employers’ association shall send to the Registrar General every calendar year a return in the prescribed form (form 5) relating to its affairs, including the number of its members at the end of that year or at such other date as may be prescribed. Every trade union or employers’ association shall appoint an auditor or auditors to audit the accounts contained in its annual return. All such returns should be sent to the address below.