Picketing : Industrial Disputes, Tactics and the Law

First published in 1983, Picketing examines the 1980 Employment Act's impact on British industrial disputes. Through direct observation, the authors analyze how this legislation—designed to restrict picketing and secondary union actions—affected workers, unions, management, and police.

First published in 1983, Picketing stands as the pioneering comprehensive analysis of industrial dispute tactics in modern British labour relations. At its core, the study examines the 1980 Employment Act—legislation specifically designed to restrict picketing activities and secondary actions by trade unions. The authors provide a thorough investigation of the political, legal, and economic foundations that shaped this legislative strategy. The authors examine what were the effects on industrial disputes in the two years after the passing of the Act, by observing such disputes and explaining what impact the new law had on the behaviour of all parties: workers, trade union officials, management and police. The exceptional depth and breadth of this study offers an unparalleled foundation for analyzing the Conservative Government's industrial relations approach and the broader role of legal frameworks in labour disputes. As Britain continues to face industrial decline, persistent unemployment, and ongoing attempts at reforming labour relations through legislation, picketing remains a central issue in contemporary political discourse. This volume provides an essential critical framework for scholars, policymakers, and labour relations professionals seeking to understand the complex interplay between law, industrial action, and economic policy in modern Britain.