Industrial action remains low

The latest TUC report on ballots and industrial action, based on research carried out by the Labour Research Department, shows that while industrial action remains low, when unions do ballot they achieve overwhelming membership support.

The report shows that most industrial action falls into the category of action short of a full strike, for example, overtime bans and that workers are more likely to vote in favour of such action. According to the survey the most common reasons for balloting and industrial action are over pay and changes to working time/practice. The report notes that unions won some or all of their demands in three out of four cases (76%). It also finds that most unions predict no change in the current levels of industrial action over the next year.

Focus on industrial action and balloting is part of the TUC's Trade union trends series of reports and a is available from TUC Publications, price £30, tel: 020 7467 1294.