Under Section 14 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, where more than one trade union is functioning in an industrial establishment, a trade union commanding the support of which of the following shall be recognised by the employer as the sole negotiating union?

Section 14(2) of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 provides that where more than one registered trade union is functioning in an industrial establishment, the union having the support of fifty-one per cent or more of workers on the muster roll of that establishment shall be recognised by the employer as the sole negotiating union for negotiating on matters connected with the workers. If no single union has 51% support, Section 14(3) requires the employer to constitute a negotiating council comprising representatives of unions individually having at least 20% support, with representation proportionate to membership strength. This statutory recognition mechanism, absent from the Trade Unions Act, 1926, formalises collective bargaining structures and reduces inter-union rivalry over representation rights.