23. Law Relating to Industrial Relations

This chapter begins with a discussion of trade union recognition, covering voluntary recognition, statutory recognition, and employers’ training policies. It then turns to collective bargaining; statutory protections, including the definitions of ‘trade dispute’, ‘in contemplation of’, and ‘in furtherance of’ industrial action; strikes; statutory protection and loss of immunities; limits to the amount of damages which may be awarded if a trade union is sued successfully in tort; injunctions and interdicts; legal effect of collective agreements; peaceful picketing; and the European Works Councils, including time off work and protection from detriment and dismissal. It also considers the issue of union recognition.