High Court bars sacked picket
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• The Court of Appeal has banned lorry drivers made redundant by the closure of an "unprofitable" Union Traffic depot in Liverpool from picketing other depots owned by their former employers.
Two judges ruled that picketing of Union Traffic's road haulage operation George Davies & Son in Desoto Road, Widnes, and its container and repairs division in Derby Road, Liverpool is illegal under the 1974 Trade Union and Labour Relations Act.
Pickets brought both sites to a standstill earlier this month at a cost to the company of over £30,000 leading to the threat of further job losses. Lord Justice Bingham and Lord Justice Lloyd agreed that this might interfere with the company's contractual rights to carry on its business since the 23 men involved in the action were not picketing their former workplace or administrative base.
They rejected arguments that the 23 — all members of the Transport and General Workers' Union — were entitled to picket under the Act because they had regularly used both depots.
Bingham said it was "fairly plain" that the affected depots were only "occasional ports of call" and therefore not covered by immunity. The judges allowed an appeal by Union Traffic against a previous decision of Mr Justice Schiemann to lift injunctions he had granted in early August banning picketing until a full trial took place to decide whether or not the action was unlawful.
The union may seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords.