Abstract
The legal status of trade unions has been the subject of judicial comment and legislation in both Britain and Australia in recent years. This paper examines the significance of this issue. An outline of the current law in both countries is prefaced by a summary of the status established under the original Trade Union Acts. The present legal position is discussed against the background of proposals for changes in the law in the last decade and the policy behind the changes that have in fact occurred. In conclusion it is suggested that providing the most appropriate legal status is not a simple technical matter; the status provided is indicative of wider judicial and legislative policy towards trade unions in particular and collective labour relations in general.
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