Disputes and Rights of Appeal

53. (a) In this Rule the term “dispute” means any dispute or difference concerning any aspect of the employment of labour within the Industry, the parties to which dispute are, or include, at least one employer participant and at least one employee participant.

(b) In any case where a Regional Board (or any Sub-Committee thereof) has adjudicated upon a dispute then, unless the National Board shall otherwise resolve, any party to that dispute shall be entitled to appeal from the decision of the Regional Board (or of the Sub-Committee) to the National Board.

(c) In any case where, having heard the parties to the dispute, the National Board had adjudicated thereon, whether on appeal from a decision of the Regional Board (or of a Sub-Committee thereof) pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Rule or otherwise howsoever, the Chairman shall decide, in his absolute discretion, whether or not and if so to what extent and in what manner and to what person or body of persons, any party to such dispute shall be entitled to appeal from the decision of the National Board.

(d) Each reference in this Rule to the National Board shall be deemed to include a reference to any Standing or other Committee of the National Board and to any Sub-Committee of any such Committee to which any power, discretion, responsibility or authority relative to adjudication upon disputes has been delegated or (as the case may be) sub-delegated pursuant to Rule 37 or (as the case may be) Rule 38.