Industrial action: why it will pay employers to be prepared

The recent marked increase in industrial action will undoubtedly continue during the two-year public-sector pay freeze announced in the emergency budget and while further job cuts remain possible. In fact,we may be experiencing a lull before the storm. The private sector is not immune either, as meagre pay deals, efficiency drives and steps to tackle burgeoning pension deficits place all employers at risk of action.

The current union balloting requirements for industrial action have been criticised because a simple majority can result in lawful strike action, even if only a small proportion of those eligible actually voted. The government may review industrial action legislation, depending on how unions react to the effects of spending cuts in the coming months.

One option for change could be the proposals outlined by the CBI. It is advocating a statutory threshold of 40
per cent of the balloted workforce voting in support before a strike is deemed to be lawful.