§ 56. Mr. Leighasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now consider introducing compulsory secret postal ballots before strike action.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI am not aware of any factors arising from strike ballots held under the provisions of the Trade Union Act 1984 which should cause the House to seek to depart from the statutory requirements which were laid down only last year. Under the Act pre-strike ballots must be held which, so far as is reasonably practicable, provide every member concerned with the opportunity to vote either by post or at the workplace, or a place more convenient to the member, immediately before, immediately after, or during his working hours. In any case, provision must be made for voting in secret by the marking of a ballot paper, for freedom from interference and for fair and accurate counting of the votes.
Unions which refuse to consult their members, or do so by show of hands at mass meetings, now lose their legal immunity, and they have learnt that lesson. Because our requirements are seen to be fair and flexible, and appropriate to the local and ephemeral character of most decisions on industrial action, they have won acceptance. To insist on postal balloting for this purpose, with the inevitable administrative burden and delays which it involves, would risk encouraging a return to the old days of unofficial, wild-cat strikes.