The High Court has rejected an attempt by GE Steam Power to stop industrial action by Unite members at its Rugby factory.

Unite members based at the factory, which manufactures and repairs steam turbine equipment, are taking industrial action in a dispute over the company’s failure to stick to union negotiating arrangements and about pay for training colleagues to work flexibly.

The strike action started on 8 August. However GE Steam Power applied to the High Court for an injunction claiming that the ballot paper was defective, that the trade dispute wasn’t properly defined and Unite members did not know what the dispute was about.

The judge rejected all the claims by the company and found in favour of Unite the union, which was represented in the case by Thompsons Solicitors. 

Richard Arthur, Head of Trade Union law at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “We are pleased to have represented Unite in this important case and to have won such a comprehensive rejection of the company’s claims. Industrial action is always a last resort, but it’s a necessary one when employers won’t listen and Thompsons is proud to work alongside unions to challenge employers who seek to prevent legitimate industrial action.

“The current government and the Tory leadership candidates are encouraging employers to see industrial disputes as malicious and something to attack for political advantage when in reality it’s about working people having no other option and nowhere else to turn.”