Dear Baskkaran, if your management has accorded the status of a recognized union to any union based on its majority membership, any long-term settlement concerning common issues as a result of bilateral negotiations can be signed by the recognized union. However, there is no bar to allowing the unrecognized unions also to sign if they accept the settlement. Such a practice would be prudent in the situation of a multiplicity of unions and would help avoid disputes in the future on the settled issues. In the case of a tripartite settlement before a conciliation officer, he would invite all the unions for conciliation and effect a settlement based on the majority's acceptance.