§ 28. Mr. Chopeasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied that employers are making full use of legislation which requires secret ballots to precede strike action.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIt is for employers themselves to decide whether or not to institute legal proceedings against trade unions which fail to hold ballots before industrial action. However, the fact that three employers have done so within seven weeks of the relevant provisions coming into force should lead trade unions to think very carefully before putting their funds at risk by embarking on industrial action without giving their members the chance to vote in a secret and properly conducted ballot.