What is industrial action?
Industrial action is the means by which workers group together to form a united front, and act in some way to disrupt their employers business in the furtherance of a trade dispute. It can include actions short of a strike, such as refusing overtime, 'working to rule', or a go slow, or total strike action.
2022 has seen a significant amount of strike and other industrial action taking place, with employees from across public and private industry downing their tools and taking a stand, back in full by their trade union.
As interest in trade unions increases, and the cost of living bites, leading employees to push harder than ever before for better financial benefits from their employer, we offer you all the resources you need to understand trade unions, and trade union laws.
In this toolkit we pull together information from across the site that will help you learn more.
Employment law resource
Case law
- RMT v United Kingdom
- Sandhu and others v Gate Gourmet London
- Mercer v Alternative Future Group Ltd
- Sehmi v Gate Gourmet London Ltd
- Metrobus v Unite
- London Underground v RMT
News articles
- MPs set nine tests for new strike laws
- Government consults on minimum service levels
- Legislation introduced to mitigate strike disruption
- Unions raise legal challenge over changes to strike laws
- The 16-point plan to deal with the unions: what you need to know
- Government announces plans to reduce the impact of industrial action
- Preparing your workforce for the impending train strikes
- Ban lifted on using agency staff during strike action
Question and Answers
- Is it unlawful for employees to 'walk out' without a ballot for industrial action?
- Are employees being made redundant eligible to vote in a ballot?
How to guide
Letters
- Letter to trade unions confirming that upcoming industrial action is unlawful as appropriate notification has not been received
- Letter to trade unions confirming that upcoming industrial action is lawful provided notification of industrial action is received
- Letter to employees confirming that upcoming industrial action is lawful
- Letter to employees taking unlawful industrial action
- Letter to employees who are performing only a part of their duties
- Letter to employees who are on strike
- Letter informing a trade union that the organisation does not believe the correct balloting process has been followed
Flowcharts
Checklists
Workplace scenario
Resources for organisation's impacted by strike action
Employment law resource
Question and Answers
- What is the difference between a lay-off and short-time working?
- Can I put my staff on short time working without a contractual clause to do so?
Letters
- Letter seeking agreement to lay-off or short-time working where no contractual right exists
- Letter to lay off employee
- Letter to place employee on a period of short-time working
- Letter confirming an employee can return to work following lay-off or short-time working period
- Letter acknowledging resignation after lay-off or short-time working
- Letter acknowledging written intention to claim redundancy payment during lay-off or short-time working
- Letter to reject Notification of Intention to Claim
Contractual clause
Training tools