3. How the ICE regulations are supposed to operate

This chapter sets out briefly the sequence of events that could lead to a functioning ICE agreement. It also flags up points to consider and problems which could arise. The parties are under a duty to work in a “spirit of co-operation” taking into account the interests of both the undertaking and the employees (regulation 21). Each of these steps is described in more detail in the chapters that follow.

There are two possible starting points:

• where the employees or employee representatives take the initiative (Steps 1 to 6); and

• where the employer takes the initiative (Steps 1a and 2a).

From step 7 the process is the same no matter who takes the initiative.