Centenary news

Solidarity action was an early casualty in the Tories’ attempt to weaken unions. In 1980 they took away the legal immunities (protections) from most forms of solidarity action — or as they prefer to call it “secondary” action. By first curbing solidarity action their aim was to isolate trade unionists one from the other and to deny the right of the strongly organised to help the weak.


From 1906 until the election of the Tories in 1979, unions had been protected from legal action which could challenge their funds. But the Tories believed that this was the key to destabilising organised workers.


In 1982 they introduced legislation which permitted employers to sue unions for damages. The print unions alone had to pay out in excess of £1.3 million.


Three unions — the NUM (miners), SOGAT (printworkers) and the NUS (seafarers) — had their funds sequestrated.


The greatest number of legal challenges has, however, come through the rules introduced on ballots before industrial action. 


From 1984 onwards, the laws have been defined and then redefined, each time introducing more complicated and lengthy procedures for unions wanting to ballot in accordance with the legal rules.


Union-bashing has become a way of life for the Tories, who exhibit no desire to stop.