Section 29: Formation of federation of trade unions.

(1) Subject to this section, two or more trade unions whose members are employed in the same trade, occupation or industry, or in substantially similar trades, occupations or industries,may form a federation of trade unions, but shall not do so unless, in the case of each of the unions concerned-
(a) a resolution approving the formation of the proposed federation has, in a secret ballot held at a meeting (whether annual or special) of delegates representing all the members of the union, been passed in circumstances such that the votes cast in favour of the resolution represent a simple majority of the members of the union; and
(b) not less than thirty days before the date of that meeting a notice in the prescribed form setting out the resolution was given to the Registrar; and
(c) all reasonable steps were taken by the union to secure that, not less than thirty days before the date of that meeting, every member of the union was supplied with a similar notice.
(2) A federation of trade unions shall not come into existence until it is registered.
(3) Where two or more trade unions propose to form a federation of trade unions and the requirements of subsection(1) of this section have been complied with, there shall be sent to the Registrar-
(a)
an application in the prescribed form for the registration of the proposed federation, signed by seven members of each one of those unions and counter-signed by the secretary of each one of those unions; and
(b) in respect of each of those unions, a statutory declaration by the secretary thereof that the requirements of subsection (1) of this section have been complied with.
(4) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section or to the generality of section 55 of this Act, Regulations, made under the said section 55-
(a) may provide that all or any of the provisions of sections 2 to 10 and the First Schedule of this Act with respect to trade unions shall apply in relation to federations of trade unions, subject to such exemptions, additions or other modifications (if any) as may be specified in the Regulations; or
[First Schedule.]
(b) may include, as regards such federations, provisions corresponding (with or without exceptions, additions or other modifications) to all or any of the said provisions.
(5) On receipt of an application under subsection (3) of this section together with the necessary statutory declarations, the Registrar, if satisfied that the requirements of this Act (including any provisions thereof applied by virtue of subsection (4) of this section) and of the Regulations with respect to the registration of federations of trade unions have been complied with, shall register the federation of trade unions.
(6) Any person who purports to do any act on behalf of a proposed federation of trade unions before that federation is registered shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.