Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers’ Associations

The Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations was a British government agency established in 1965 to review the country's industrial relations system. This review was prompted by concerns that voluntary bargaining between unions and employers was leading to economic damage, including inflation and industrial disruption.1

The Commission's largely voluntary proposals did not satisfy the government's desire for immediate action. The Commission's work aimed to address issues such as the role of trade unions in fixing wages through collective bargaining. It also considered the legal framework surrounding strikes, referencing the Trade Disputes Act of 1906, which granted unions immunity from liability for damages arising from strike actions. The Commission's findings and recommendations were intended to shape the evolving landscape of labor-employer relations in the UK.123