Section 49 — Employment Relations Act 2000: Parties joining bargaining after it begins

49 Parties joining bargaining after it begins (1) A union or employer may become a party to bargaining for a collective agreement after bargaining has been initiated, but only if the requirements of this section are met. (2) The union or employer that wishes to become a party to the bargaining must, at the time that it seeks to become a party, meet the requirements (including but not limited to those for secret ballots) that would have applied if the union or employer had been a party at the initiation of the bargaining. (3) The parties to the bargaining must consent to the union or employer becoming a party to the bargaining.