§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the objectives of the Government's industrial relations policy; and if he is satisfied with the progress being made.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyOur objectives are to redress the imbalance of bargaining power created by the legislation of 1974 and 1976 and to promote a more democratic and responsible trade union movement. Some 40 employers have already sought the protection of the legal remedies provided by our legislation against indiscriminate or undemocratic industrial action. The monopolistic hold of the closed shop has been broken. The second largest trade union in the country and a number of other unions affiliated to the TUC have now decided to apply for public funding for postal ballots.
The provisions of the Trade Union Act 1984 for elections by secret ballot and regular ballots on trade unions' political funds have yet to come into force. The full benefits of our step-by-step legislative programme have therefore yet to be seen but that programme has already proved to be a vital agent of change.