Trade union legislation 1979-2010

A summary of trade union legislation enacted between 1979 and 2010.

This note summarises the major pieces of trade union legislation introduced under the 1979 – 1997 Conservative governments, and that enacted under Labour governments between 1997 and 2010.  Most of this legislation is consolidated in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 as amended.

Both the Coalition Government (2010-2015) and the current Conservative Government (2015 – ) have made further significant amendments to trade union law, which are discussed in the Library’s briefing on the Trade Union Bill 2015-16, now the Trade Union Act 2016.