Employment Act 1988

32 Interpretation

(1) In this Act, except in so far as the context otherwise requires—

• “the 1913 Act” means the [1913 c. 30.] Trade Union Act 1913;

• “the 1973 Act” means the [1973 c. 50.] Employment and Training Act 1973;

• “the 1974 Act” means the [1974 c. 52.] Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974;

• “the 1978 Act” means the [1978 c. 44.] Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978;

• “the 1982 Act” means the [1982 c. 46.] Employment Act 1982;

• “the 1984 Act” means the [1984 c. 49.] Trade Union Act 1984;

• “branch or section”, in relation to a trade union, means any branch or section of the union, including, except in section 6 above, any branch or section which is itself a trade union;

• “the Certification Officer” means the officer appointed under section 7 of the [1975 c. 71.] Employment Protection Act 1975;

• “the Commissioner” means the Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members;

• “conduct” includes statements, acts and omissions;

• “contract of employment”, “employer”, “official”, “trade union” and “worker” have the same meanings as in the 1974 Act;

• “contravention”, in relation to any order of a court or other requirement, includes a failure to comply, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

• “the court”, in relation to England and Wales, means the High Court and, in relation to Scotland, means the Court of Session;

• “member”, in relation to a trade union consisting wholly or partly of, or of representatives of, constituent or affiliated organisations, includes any member of any of the constituent or affiliated organisations;

• “modifications” includes additions, alterations and omissions, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

• “rules”, in relation to a trade union, includes the rules of any branch or section of the union.

(2) For the purposes of this Act a ballot is taken or a contested election is held on the day or, as the case may be, the last day for the casting of votes in the ballot, being, in the case of a ballot or election in which votes are cast by the return of voting papers to a particular person, the last day for the return of those papers to that person, and an uncontested election is deemed to be held on the day on which it would have been held if it had been contested.