Industrial action factsheet

This factsheet applies where the ballot for industrial action opened on or after 1 March 2017. Please take advice if the trade union is relying on a ballot which was opened before 1 March 2017, when the law on ballots was different. These ballots are still relevant because as long as the industrial action started within tour weeks (can be extended to eight weeks by agreement) of the date the ballot closed there is no fixed end date to the validity of the ballot.

Under English law all industrial action is unlawful unless the procedural requirements of statute are complied with. There is no positive “right to strike” or to take other collective action.