Paragraph 14

In the event of any questions arising in relation to wages and/or working conditions which cannot be resolved by domestic procedure, the matter shall, in the first instance, be dealt with between the management of the employer and the area official(s) of the Trade Union(s) concerned.

Failing a settlement, status quo^f1 shall apply until the following procedure has been exhausted.

The parties to the dispute shall define the dispute and forward their written submissions as quickly as possible to the Joint Secretaries. Any problems of definition shall be referred to the Chairman of the Joint Industrial Council. Within 14 days of notification, the Joint Secretaries will notify to the parties the date of a meeting of a Dispute Panel.

The Dispute Panel will comprise two representatives appointed by each of the Employer and Trade Union Panels of the Joint Industrial Council under the Chairmanship, in a non-voting capacity, of the Chairman of the Joint Industrial Council, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman.

The decision of the Dispute Panel will be binding on both parties. In the event of a Dispute Panel being unable to reach a decision, the matter shall be referred to arbitration arranged through A.C.A.S., the decision of which shall be binding on both parties.

The parties to a dispute shall pay the expenses of their respective sides of any committee to which the Dispute is referred, and shall share equally any other expenses which arise from the reference.