trade union immunities

legal protection from civil action for TRADE UNIONS taking lawful STRIKE action in
furtherance of an INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE. Without these, employers could take legal action
against unions every time they caused employees to breach their CONTRACT OF
EMPLOYMENT in this way. The immunities in effect confer a negative right not to be sued
for such action. For immunity to be held, it is essential that a strike be officially sanctioned
by the union and that the union follows the procedures for taking strike action stipulated in
recent labour laws. Immunity is restricted to trade disputes between employees and their
employer concerning the terms and conditions of employment, allocation of work, discipline,
union membership and facilities and INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS procedures. All forms of
SECONDARY ACTION are now excluded from immunity.