http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/52/section/234Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992An Act to consolidate the enactments relating to collective labour relations, that is to say, to trade unions, employers’ associations, industrial relations and industrial action.1992-07-16texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-05-11Expert Participation2026-04-07 Part V Industrial action Requirement of ballot before action by trade union Period after which ballot ceases to be effective.2341Industrial action that is regarded as having the support of a ballot shall cease to be so regarded at the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date of the ballot.1ASubsection (1) has effect—awithout prejudice to the possibility of the industrial action getting the support of a fresh ballot; andbsubject to the following provisions.2Where for the whole or part of that period the calling or organising of industrial action is prohibited—aby virtue of a court order which subsequently lapses or is discharged, recalled or set aside, orbby virtue of an undertaking given to a court by any person from which he is subsequently released or by which he ceases to be bound,the trade union may apply to the court for an order that the period during which the prohibition had effect shall not count towards the period referred to in subsection (1).3The application must be made forthwith upon the prohibition ceasing to have effect—ato the court by virtue of whose decision it ceases to have effect, orbwhere an order lapses or an undertaking ceases to bind without any such decision, to the court by which the order was made or to which the undertaking was given;...4The court shall not make an order if it appears to the court—athat the result of the ballot no longer represents the views of the union members concerned, orbthat an event is likely to occur as a result of which those members would vote against industrial action if another ballot were to be held.5No appeal lies from the decision of the court to make or refuse an order under this section.6The period between the making of an application under this section and its determination does not count towards the period referred to in subsection (1)....S. 234 applied (14.8.2000) by S.I. 2000/1828, art. 2(5)(c)Words in s. 234(3) omitted (1.3.2017) by virtue of Trade Union Act 2016 (c. 15), s. 25(1), Sch. 4 para. 14(a) (with s. 9(2)); S.I. 2017/139, reg. 2(n)(i)Words in s. 234(6) omitted (1.3.2017) by virtue of Trade Union Act 2016 (c. 15), s. 25(1), Sch. 4 para. 14(b) (with s. 9(2)); S.I. 2017/139, reg. 2(n)(i)S. 234(1)(1A) substituted for s. 234(1) (1.3.2017) by Trade Union Act 2016 (c. 15), ss. 9(1), 25(1) (with s. 9(2)); S.I. 2017/139, reg. 2(g)Words in s. 234(1) substituted (18.2.2026) by Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), ss. 72, 159(2)(i) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2026/3, Sch. 2 para. 9)