High Court wrong to grant employer an injunction against union over strike action, the State’s top judges rule

Supreme Court affirms “absolute bar” to courts granting such orders when correct legal procedures for a strike have been followed

H.A. O’Neill Limited got the injunction against Unite and three members. Photo: Getty

Aodhan O'Faolain

The Supreme Court has ruled that a lower court was wrong to grant an injunction restraining members of Unite the Union from taking industrial action.

In an important decision for trade unions the court found that the key legislation that governed industrial relations in Ireland provided an “absolute bar” to courts granting injunctions restraining industrial action when the correct legal procedures had been followed.