The Trade Union Act 2016 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional) Regulations 2021

• Citation: S.I. 2021/1373
• Sections: 16

Section 1 Citation and extent

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Trade Union Act 2016 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional) Regulations 2021.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

Section 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations—

“ the 1992 Act ” means the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 ; and

“ the 2016 Act ” means the Trade Union Act 2016.

Section 3 Provisions coming into force on 8th December 2021

The following provisions of the 2016 Act come into force on 8th December 2021—

(a) section 17 (Investigatory powers etc), for the purpose of enabling the exercise of the power to make regulations under section 256D of, and paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of Schedule A4 to, the 1992 Act , in so far as section 17 relates to:

(i) the insertion of section 256C of the 1992 Act (which gives effect to a new Schedule A3 to the 1992 Act);

(ii) paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 1 to the 2016 Act (inserted as Schedule A3 to the 1992 Act), which comprises part of the definition of an “enforcement order” set out in Schedule A4 to the 1992 Act; and

(iii) paragraphs 7(1) and (3) of Schedule 2 to the 2016 Act (to the extent that they amend section 82(2A) of the 1992 Act), which comprises part of the definition of an “enforcement order” set out in Schedule A4 to the 1992 Act;

(b) section 19(1) and (2) (Further powers of Certification Officer where enforcement order made), for the purpose of enabling the exercise of the power to make regulations under section 256D of, and paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of Schedule A4 to, the 1992 Act;

(c) section 20 (Power to impose levy).

Section 4 Provisions coming into force on 1st April 2022

The following provisions of the 2016 Act come into force on 1st April 2022—

(a) section 16 (Certification Officer not subject to ministerial direction);

(b) section 17 (Investigatory powers etc), to the extent that it is not then already in force;

(c) section 19 (Further powers of Certification Officer where enforcement order made), to the extent that it is not then already in force;

(d) section 21 (Rights of appeal not limited to questions of law);

(e) section 22 (Minor and consequential amendments), to the extent that it is not then already in force.

Section 5 Transitional provisions in relation to section 256C (Investigatory powers) and Schedule A3 (Certification Officer: Investigatory Powers) of the 1992 Act

The powers at section 256C of, and Schedule A3 to, the 1992 Act, inserted by section 17(1) and (2) of the 2016 Act, apply only where the failure of the trade union to comply with any of the relevant obligations listed in paragraph 1(1)(a) to (g) of Schedule A3 to the 1992 Act, which is the subject of an investigation of the Certification Officer, occurs on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 6 Transitional provisions in relation to section 256C (Investigatory powers) and Schedule A3 (Certification Officer: Investigatory Powers) of the 1992 Act

The powers at section 256C of, and Schedule A3 to, the 1992 Act, inserted by section 17(1) and (2) of the 2016 Act, apply to unincorporated employers’ associations by virtue of section 132 or 133 of the 1992 Act only where the failure to comply with any of the relevant obligations listed in paragraph 1(1)(d) to (g) of Schedule A3 to the 1992 Act, which is the subject of an investigation of the Certification Officer, occurs on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 7 Transitional provision in relation to section 45C (Remedies and enforcement) of the 1992 Act

The amendments made to section 45C of the 1992 Act by section 17(3) of, and paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to, the 2016 Act apply only where the failure of the trade union to comply with the requirements of section 45B of the 1992 Act, which is the subject of the application to the Certification Officer or the court or of the exercise of powers by the Certification Officer, occurs on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 8 Transitional provision in relation to section 54 (Remedy for failure to comply with requirements: general) of the 1992 Act

The amendments made to section 54 of the 1992 Act by section 17(3) of, and paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to, the 2016 Act apply only where the failure of the trade union to comply with the requirements of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of the 1992 Act, which is the subject of the application to the Certification Officer or the court or of the exercise of powers by the Certification Officer, occurs on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 9 Transitional provision in relation to section 55 (Powers of Certification Officer) of the 1992 Act

The amendments made to section 55 of the 1992 Act by section 17(3) of, and paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to, the 2016 Act apply only where the failure of the trade union to comply with the requirements of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of the 1992 Act, which is the subject of the application to the Certification Officer or of the exercise of powers by the Certification Officer, occurs on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 10 Transitional provision in relation to section 72A (Application of funds in breach of section 71) of the 1992 Act

The amendments made to section 72A of the 1992 Act by section 17(3) of, and paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 to, the 2016 Act apply only where the breach by the trade union of section 71 of the 1992 Act, which is the subject of the application to the Certification Officer or of the exercise of powers by the Certification Officer, occurs on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 11 Transitional provision in relation to section 79 (Remedy for failure to comply with ballot rules: general) of the 1992 Act

The amendments made to section 79 of the 1992 Act by section 17(3) of, and paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 to, the 2016 Act apply only where the trade union’s or unincorporated employers’ association’s holding of a ballot on a political resolution or failure to comply with political ballot rules, which is the subject of the application to the Certification Officer or the court or of the exercise of powers by the Certification Officer, occurs on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 12 Transitional provision in relation to section 80 (Powers of Certification Officer) of the 1992 Act

The amendments made to section 80 of the 1992 Act by section 17(3) of, and paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 to, the 2016 Act apply only where the trade union’s or unincorporated employers’ association’s holding of a ballot on a political resolution or failure to comply with political ballot rules, which is the subject of the application to the Certification Officer or of the exercise of powers by the Certification Officer, occurs on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 13 Transitional provision in relation to section 82 (Rules as to political fund) of the 1992 Act

The amendments made to section 82 of the 1992 Act by section 17(3) of, and paragraph 7 of Schedule 2 to, the 2016 Act apply only where the breach by the trade union or unincorporated employers’ association of a rule made in pursuance of section 82 of the 1992 Act, which is the subject of the complaint to the Certification Officer or of the exercise of powers by the Certification Officer, occurs on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 14 Transitional provision in relation to section 103 (Powers of Certification Officer as regards passing of resolution) of the 1992 Act

The amendments made to section 103 of the 1992 Act by section 17(3) of, and paragraph 8 of Schedule 2 to, the 2016 Act apply only where the failure of the trade union or unincorporated employers’ association to comply with the requirements of sections 99 to 100E of the 1992 Act or with any rule of the trade union or unincorporated employers’ association relating to the passing of a resolution, which is the subject of the application to the Certification Officer or of the exercise of powers by the Certification Officer, occurs on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 15 Transitional provision in relation to sections 24B(12), 25(10), 31(5), 45C(9), 55(9), 72A(9), 80(9), 82(4B) and 108B(8) of the 1992 Act

The amendments made to sections 24B(12), 25(10), 31(5), 45C(9), 55(9), 72A(9), 80(9), 82(4B) and 108B(8) of the 1992 Act by section 19(4) of the 2016 Act apply only to orders made by the Certification Officer on or after 1st April 2022.

Section 16 Transitional provision in relation to sections 45D, 56A, 95, 104 and 108C of the 1992 Act

The amendments made to sections 45D, 56A, 95, 104 and 108C of the 1992 Act by section 21 of the 2016 Act apply only to an appeal against a decision of the Certification Officer where that decision was made on or after 1st April 2022.