Merseyside call on picket control rules
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MERSEYSIDE Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants to see the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act modified to include a new code of practice.
The decision to call for the move was taken in the light of the drivers' strike and is aimed at minimising the effects of strikes on those not involved.
Four points in the code are that picketing should be restricted to those directly involved in the dispute and to premises directly involved; this would allow only employees or trade union officers directly involved to picket and would exclude flying pickets.
Numbers of pickets should be "appropriate to the site and sufficient only to com municate information peacefully." Pickets would have to be in possession of union authorisation and have an appointed leader.
The chamber added that legislation is urgently needed to make unions accountable for their actions and to ensure that ballots are fairly operated without undue pressure.