The Industrial Relations Act 1967 was recently updated to address the
complexities of having multiple trade unions within a single workplace.
The introduction of "Sole Bargaining Rights" aims to simplify the collective
bargaining process.
Under the new Section 12A, if multiple unions are recognized by the same
employer, the unions may decide among themselves who will hold the sole
bargaining rights. If they cannot agree, any party may apply to the
Director General for a determination via a secret ballot.
Section 12B further stabilizes this arrangement by stating that once a
union obtains sole bargaining rights, no other union can challenge that
position for a period of three years. This ensures that collective
bargaining—the process of negotiating terms like wages and skill
training—can proceed without constant jurisdictional disputes,
fostering long-term industrial peace.
