In the past the Committee has declined to ratify minimum services agreements for various procedural/administrative and substantive reasons including:

·       Agreements were not affixed to the LRA 4.8 form

·       All pages of the agreement were not initialled

·       The text was neither clear nor readable

·       Agreements included employees employed in services not designated as essential

·       Original agreements were not submitted

·       Agreements were concluded for indefinite periods

·       Specific essential services were not specified

·       Total staff complements were not specified

·       The number of employees engaged in the essential services was not specified

·       Actual numbers were not used and the use of percentages was not acceptable

Minimum services agreements should have the following characteristics:

·       The agreement must be affixed to a LRA 4.8 form

·       The agreement must be clear and unambiguous

·       The original agreement must be submitted to the ESC

·       Each page of the agreement must be initialled

·       Agreement must be signed in full

·       Agreements must be for a specific/definite period

·       Only designated services must be dealt with.