Strike ballot legislation

Meanwhile, under a proposed Labour Relations Amendment Bill currently before parliament, workers will have to vote for any strike action in the event of a deadlock in negotiations between their trade unions and employers, the 'Herald' reported. Tabled last week, it requires that a secret ballot of employees be taken on the question of whether to strike or not whenever a workers' committee or trade union proposes to embark on such action. "The move takes away the right of a few people in the unions to determine the fate of thousands of workers, some of whom have had to unwillingly go by decisions taken in their absence," the newspaper said.