Royal Mail Group Ltd v Communication Workers Union [2020] EWHC 842 (QB) (08 April 2020)

Royal Mail Group Ltd v Communication Workers Union [2020] EWHC 842 (QB) (08 April 2020)

Summary judgment is refused because there are disputed issues of fact regarding whether the Defendant induced the strike action, and these issues require a full trial for proper resolution. The Defendant's case, while improbable, still has a real prospect of success and there are compelling reasons for a trial.

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2020] EWHC 842 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Royal Mail Group Limited; Defendant: Communication Workers Union
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
08 April 2020
Procedural Posture
Summary Judgment Application / Application for Summary Judgment on Liability for Inducement to Breach of Contract
Outcome
Application for summary judgment refused
Legal Topics
Industrial Action, Summary Judgment, Inducement to Breach of Contract, Trade Union Liability, Collective Agreements
Employment Law Labour Law Civil Procedure Industrial Action Summary Judgment Inducement to Breach of Contract Trade Union Liability Collective Agreements

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Parties

Royal Mail Group Limited

Claimant

Communication Workers Union

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Summary Judgment Application / Application for Summary Judgment on Liability for Inducement to Breach of Contract

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Defendant induced a breach of contract by encouraging unballoted strike action
  2. 2 Whether summary judgment should be granted where there are disputed issues of fact

Ratio Decidendi

Summary judgment is refused because there are disputed issues of fact regarding whether the Defendant induced the strike action, and these issues require a full trial for proper resolution. The Defendant's case, while improbable, still has a real prospect of success and there are compelling reasons for a trial.

Court Disposition

Application for summary judgment refused

Orders

  • Claim proceeds to trial on the issues of inducement to breach of contract and related matters