LRD guides and handbook May 2015

Law at Work 2015

Chapter 9

Supporting other workers

[ch 9: page 263]

Solidarity has always been important for trade unionists, but has been undermined by legislation introduced since 1980 that outlaws secondary action, including “secondary picketing”. Under section 224 of TULRCA, a person inducing or threatening another to break a contract of employment which is not with the employer that is party to the dispute, is not protected by the immunities. A union threat to picket other places of work will also be unlawful. The only form of solidarity action permitted is where workers picketing at or near their place of work persuade other workers not employed there not to deliver goods or to enter the work premises.