As reported back in May, the Trade Union Act 2016 introduces new requirements relating to balloting for industrial action. In particular, such ballots will require a 50% turnout and, for important public services, a 40% supporting vote before industrial action can be taken.
The Act, as a whole, is not yet in force. However, earlier this month, part of the Act was brought into force giving the Government the power to make regulations to define "important public services" for the purposes of the 40% threshold requirement.
These regulations have now been put before Parliament for approval and, as provided for in the Act, they relate to the health, fire, transport, education and border security sectors. The Act also references another sector (decommissioning of nuclear installations and management of radioactive waste and spent fuel), however, as yet, no regulations have been published in respect of this sector.
These regulations will come into force on 1st March 2017 (or 21 days from the date they are made, if later). It’s possible, therefore, that the new ballot thresholds will be introduced around the same time although we have no official timeframe for this at present.
Watch this space…