Paragraph 27 of the Schedule amends paragraph 44 (validity of applications: existing collective agreement) of Schedule A1 by specifying that any worker who joins the bargaining unit after the application day will not be counted for the purposes of the trade union recognition process.
	Paragraph 27 also inserts after subparagraph (5) of paragraph 44 of Schedule A1 a new subparagraph (6) to ensure that a recognition agreement agreed between an employer and a non-independent union following receipt by the employer of a letter from an independent union formally requesting voluntary recognition cannot block the independent union’s subsequent application for statutory recognition. This is as long as the statutory recognition application is submitted by the independent union within 20 working days from the end of the period where the employer has to respond to the request for voluntary recognition under paragraph 11 or 12 of Schedule A1.
	Paragraph 28 of the Schedule amends paragraph 45 (validity of applications: minimum support) of Schedule A1 by inserting references to the ‘required percentage" of the workers in the bargaining unit and specifying that any worker who joined the bargaining unit after the application day is not counted for the purposes of the recognition process.
	Paragraph 29 of the Schedule amends paragraph 46 of Schedule A1 (validity of applications: overlapping bargaining unit) by clarifying that any worker who joins the bargaining unit after the application day will not be counted for the purposes of the trade union recognition process.
	Paragraph 31 of the Schedule makes consequential amendments to paragraph 48 of Schedule A1 (validity of applications: union not entitled to be recognised).
	Paragraph 32 of the Schedule inserts after paragraph 48 of Schedule A1 new paragraph 48A. New paragraph 48A relates to applications where the CAC is asked to determine the bargaining unit, either because one of the parties does not believe the original bargaining unit is appropriate, or because there has been significant change to it or where the original bargaining unit may no longer exist. Where the CAC in such applications has found that a union has breached an access agreement or has committed an unfair practice, the CAC can then declare that the union is not entitled to be recognised and cannot re-apply for recognition in relation to that same or similar bargaining unit for 3 years.
	Paragraph 33 of the Schedule makes consequential amendments to paragraph 49 of Schedule A1 (validity of applications: union required to cease bargaining arrangements).
Part 4: Trade Unions and Industrial Action, etc Trade union recognition Part 2 - Recognition General provisions about validity of applications