BT challenges union strike ballot
Just hours before the Communication Workers Union was due to release the result of a strike ballot amongst BT employees the union was forced to call off the announcement after BT won a legal challenge questioning the legality of the action. It is unclear on what terms the strike action was challenged but a legal technicality would appear to have scuppered union plans to bring down BT in the short term.
This is just the latest in a number of high-profile disputes between management and unions with many in the UK expecting this situation to become more critical in the future. While BT has managed to avert a strike in the short term, this does nothing for management and union relations and indeed it will not be long before the union re-ballots members about a new round of industrial action. This comes just days after the UK government appeared to indicate that a tightening of union rights and union laws in the UK will be forthcoming in the short term.
The stage now appear set for a battle royal between the unions, management and the UK government, something which the Conservative government brought to the table back in 1980s when Margaret Thatcher took on and single-handedly smashed the unions in the UK.
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