Information and consultation at work: jargon buster

Section 11 of the Personnel Today Management Resources one stop guide on information and consultation at work. Other sections.

Acas The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, which is responsible for mediating in relation to certain disputes between employers and employee representatives. Acas is a useful source of information in relation to issues concerning the establishment of works councils and trade union recognition arrangements. See section10 for contact details.

CAC The Central Arbitration Committee, which is responsible for determining applications for trade union recognition.

CBI The Confederation of British Industry. A body representing UK employers' interests.

Collective bargaining General description for the arrangements that may exist on a voluntary or compulsory basis for negotiation between employers and trade unions concerning work place issues. The term has a specific statutory meaning in the context of trade union recognition.

CSR Corporate social responsibility.

DTI The Department of Trade and Industry. A useful source of information in relation to the Government's views as to employee relations issues. See section10 for contact details.

EEA The European Economic Area, which comprises the member states of the EU together with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

ERA The Employment Relations Act 1999. Introduced legislation requiring the compulsory recognition of trade unions in certain circumstances.

EU The European Union.

EWC European Works Council.

JNB The Joint Negotiating Body. Established for the purposes of statutory trade union recognition.

QIP Qualified independent person, for the purposes of determining certain issues in relation to applications for trade union recognition.

Recognition A trade union may be recognised by an employer on either a voluntary or a compulsory basis for purposes of collective bargaining.

SNB The special negotiating body set up for the purposes of establishing an EWC.

Transferor Seller in a TUPE context.

Transferee Purchaser in a TUPE context.

TUC The Trade Union Congress.

TULRA The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, which contains the legislation relating to consultation on collective redundancies.

TUPE The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 which set out the requirements in relation to informing and consulting in connection with business transfers and outsourcings.