Strikes, injunctions and compliance orders: the Labour Relations Act 1987

Abstract

The paper begins by criticising aspects of recent articles which are taken as indicative of views other than of employers, on economic torts and the Labour Court. In particular, it respectfully doubts the propriety of Richardson's dissenting views in the Baking Trades case, and the correctness of the learned Judge's re-statement of the common thesis that industrial relations is a unique civil relationship which necessarily demands a separate labour jurisdiction. It then discusses some problems appearing in the first few month's application of the 1987 Act, particularly regarding remedies against strikes lvith simultaneous and multiple causes. The paper closes with an argument that striking is totally outdated.