The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Industrial action affecting supply of goods or services to an individual

Industrial action affecting supply of goods or services to an individual

120.—(1) Where an individual claims that—

(a) any trade union or other person has done, or is likely to do, an unlawful act to induce any person to take part, or to continue to take part, in industrial action, and

(b) an effect, or a likely effect, of the industrial action is or will be to—

(i) prevent or delay the supply of goods or services, or

(ii) reduce the quality of goods or services supplied,

to the individual making the claim, he may apply to the High Court for an order under this Article.

(2) For the purposes of this Article an act to induce any person to take part, or to continue to take part, in industrial action is unlawful—

(a) if it is actionable in tort by any one or more persons, or

(b) (where it is or would be the act of a trade union) if it could form the basis of an application by a member under Article 29 (right to a ballot before industrial action).

(3) In determining whether an individual may make an application under this Article it is immaterial whether or not the individual is entitled to be supplied with the goods or services in question.

(4) Where on an application under this Article the High Court is satisfied that the claim is well-founded, it shall make such order as it considers appropriate for requiring the person by whom the act of inducement has been, or is likely to be, done to take steps for ensuring—

(a) that no, or no further, act is done by him to induce any persons to take part or to continue to take part in the industrial action, and

(b) that no person engages in conduct after the making of the order by virtue of having been induced by him before the making of the order to take part or continue to take part in the industrial action.

(5) Without prejudice to any other power of the High Court, the court may on an application under this Article grant such interlocutory relief as it considers appropriate.

(6) For the purposes of this Article an act of inducement shall be taken to be done by a trade union if it is authorised or endorsed by the union; and the provisions of Article 21(2) to (4) of the 1992 Order apply for the purposes of determining whether such an act is to be taken to be so authorised or endorsed.

Those provisions also apply in relation to proceedings for failure to comply with an order under this Article as they apply in relation to the original proceedings.

Application for assistance for proceedings under Article 120

121.—(1) An individual who is an actual or prospective party to proceedings to which this Article applies may apply to the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action (in this Article and Article 122 referred to as “the Commissioner”) for assistance in relation to the proceedings, and the Commissioner shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving the application, consider it and decide whether and to what extent to grant it.

(2) This Article applies to proceedings or prospective proceedings to the extent that they consist in, or arise out of, an application to the High Court under Article 120 brought with respect to an act of a trade union; but the Department may by order subject to affirmative resolution, provide that this Article shall also apply to such proceedings brought with respect to an act of a person other than a trade union. (3) The matters to which the Commissioner may have regard in determining whether, and to what extent, to grant an application under this Article include—

(a) whether it is unreasonable, having regard to the complexity of the case, to expect the applicant to deal with it unaided, and

(b) whether, in the Commissioner’s opinion, the case involves a matter of substantial public interest or concern.

(4) If the Commissioner decides not to provide assistance, he shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after making the decision, notify the applicant of his decision and, if he thinks fit, of the reasons for it.

(5) If the Commissioner decides to provide assistance, he shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after making the decision—

(a) notify the applicant, stating the extent of the assistance to be provided, and

(b) give him a choice, subject to any restrictions specified in the notification, as to the financial arrangements to be made in connection with the provision of the assistance.

(6) The assistance provided may include the making of arrangements for, or for the Commissioner to bear the costs of—

(a) the giving of advice or assistance by a solicitor or counsel, and

(b) the representation of the applicant, or the provision to him of such assistance as is usually given by a solicitor or counsel—

(i) in steps preliminary or incidental to the proceedings, or

(ii) in arriving at or giving effect to a compromise to avoid or bring an end to the proceedings.

Provisions supplementary to Article 121

122.—(1) Where assistance is provided under Article 121 with respect to the conduct of proceedings—

(a) it shall include an agreement by the Commissioner to indemnify the applicant (subject only to any exceptions specified in the notification) in respect of any liability to pay costs or expenses arising by virtue of any judgment or order of the High Court in the proceedings,

(b) it may include an agreement by the Commissioner to indemnify the applicant in respect of any liability to pay costs or expenses arising by virtue of any compromise or settlement arrived at in respect of the matter in connection with which the assistance is provided in order to avoid or bring proceedings to an end, and

(c) it may include an agreement by the Commissioner to indemnify the applicant in respect of any liability to pay damages pursuant to an undertaking given on the grant of interlocutory relief to the applicant.

(2) Where the Commissioner provides assistance in relation to any proceedings, he shall do so on such terms, or make such other arrangements, as will secure that a person against whom the proceedings have been or are commenced is informed that assistance has been or is being provided by the Commissioner in relation to them.

(3) The recovery of expenses incurred by the Commissioner in providing an applicant with assistance (as taxed or assessed in such manner as may be prescribed by rules of court) shall constitute a first charge for the benefit of the Commissioner—

(a) on any costs which, by virtue of any judgment or order of the High Court, are payable to the applicant by any other person in respect of the matter in connection with which the assistance is provided, and

(b) on any sum payable to the applicant under a compromise or settlement arrived at in connection with that matter to avoid or bring proceedings to an end.

(4) Where a person is receiving assistance in relation to proceedings, there shall, if he so wishes, be added after his name in the title of the proceedings the words “(assisted by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action)”.

(5) The addition of those words shall not be construed as making the Commissioner a party to the proceedings or as liable to be treated as a party for any purpose; and the omission of those words shall be treated as an irregularity only and shall not nullify the proceedings, any step taken in the proceedings or any document, judgment or order therein.

(6) Where the Commissioner grants an application to a person who for the purposes of the application—

(a) has made a statement which he knew to be false in a material particular, or

(b) has recklessly made a statement which was false in a material particular,

he is entitled to recover from that person any sum paid by him to that person, or to any other person, by way of assistance; but nothing in this paragraph affects the power of the Commissioner to enter into any agreement he thinks fit as to the terms on which assistance is provided.

(7) Nothing in Article 121 or this Article affects the law and practice regulating the description of persons who may appear in, conduct, defend and address the High Court in any proceedings.

(8) In Article 121 and this Article “applicant”, in relation to assistance, means the individual on whose application the assistance is provided.