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7. A bare perusal of the above quoted Section would show that whereas a settlement arrived at by agreement between the employer and the workmen otherwise than in the course of conciliation proceeding is binding only on the parties to the agreement, a settlement arrived in the course of conciliation proceeding under the Act is binding not only on the parties to the settlement but also on other persons specified in Clauses (b), (c) and (d) of Sub-section (3) of Section 18 of the Act. Therefore, if the settlement arrived at between the employer and the workmen, otherwise than in the course of conciliation proceedings, with which we are concerned in this case, it shall be binding on the parties to the settlement. The phrase "parties to the settlement" includes both employer and an individual employee or the union representing the employees. If the settlement is between the employer and workman it would be binding on that particular employee and the employer; if it is between a recognised union of the employees and the employer, it will bind all the members of the union and the employer. That it would be binding on all the members of the union is a necessary corollary of collective bargaining in the absence of allegation of mala fides or fraud. Merely because an individual employee or some of the employees do not agree to the terms of the settlement entered into between a recognised union and the employer, he/they cannot be permitted to contend that it is not binding on him/them. In the present case the union is recognised union under the Code of Discipline in respect of the Dock Workers working in the appellant company. Therefore, the settlement entered into by the Union with the employer would be binding on its members.