The applicant union filed four applications for certification.
A threshold issue was whether the applicant was a trade union within the meaning of section 1(1)(p) of the Labour Relations Act.
The respondents argued that the applicant was not a trade union because its constitution allowed vessel owners (alleged to be management) to join, and because some members were not employees.
The Board rejected these arguments, holding that the phrase 'organization of employees' does not mean 'organization of employees only', and that the presence of managerial members does not automatically preclude trade union status.
The Board found that the applicant had followed the necessary steps to form a trade union and declared it to be a trade union under the Act.
