Trade Union Freedom Bill


The Trade Union Freedom Bill is a proposal by the United Kingdom Trades Union Congress for legislation which would give greater freedom to unions and their members to collectively bargain and take action to support their interests. It was proposed in 2006, the centenary of the Trade Disputes Act 1906, the founding statute by which unions taking strike action are not liable to employers for the lost profits of business, so long as the action is taken "in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute."

Overview

The core idea behind the proposed Bill is to maximise the freedom of workers for participating in industrial action as a last resort, and not be liable to any detrimental response by an employer for doing so or having done so. A summary of the proposals in the Bill are laid out at the TUC's website. An overview is stated to be,
The proposed Bill has received widespread support from trade unions and some academics.