The recent Rookes versus Barnard case, in which the House of Lords: found against the Draughtsmon's Union, and thereby brought into question the whole principlo of the right to strike, is ably summarised in the Labour Research Department pamphlet “Trade Unions Hamstrung", The author, O.H. Parsons, discusses the complox logal issues and the effects of the decision .in ovoryay lanrsuacs.
He questions the logic of the Judgemont, and shows how it now places all strikers undor the danger of stringent penaltics. ("..the judgements are effectively declaring 211 strikes unl=wful" - page 21)
In discussing suggestions for amonding legislation, he makes tho important point that it would bo wrong “to attompt to gain...more than we have lost by this ill-starred judgement. All we should seek is a rostoration of the logal position which everyone understood to exist until the present ." These words should be written on the banner of the trade union left-wing: bocause thore is a great danger that the occasion of a necessary reform in the law will be soizod by the employ= ers (and some of their less critical opponents in tho unions?) to impose changes which will bo calculated to cause nothing but pain to the militants.
The pamphlet costs 1/~ and it is available from: Labour Research Department, 161, Drury Lane, W.C. 2.