This guide covers only the laws relating to trade unions and industrial action. The provisions making up the floor of rights are not touched upon, but it should be noted that their erosion goes hand in hand with the new philosophy that informs current labour law. Recently, however, many individual rights have improved as the result of European Council Directives despite the Conservative Government's attempts to resist many of them. The following two sections outline the law relating to trade unions. This is important in explaining not only the form of the new laws but also how relatively simple it has been to adjust those laws to the new philosophy.
Further sections itemise particular issues and outline the legal position.
This is not a text book for lawyers and it should be borne in mind that the law is not static. Thus an action that may appear today to be within the law may be subject to a different interpretation by the judges tomorrow.