ABSTRACT
The closed shop agreement or, more commonly, the understanding between employers and unions that the former would maintain 100 per cent trade union membership had, by 1971, become a not uncommon feature of the organized section of British industry. The Industrial Relations Act, however, provided as a basic rule that every worker had, as against his employer, a right to join any registered trade union he chose or a right to remain outside any organization of workers or any particular organization of workers; such, for instance, as one designated by the employer. Where a successful application for a specially permitted post-entry closed shop has been made, the worker must join one of the trade unions with which the agreement is made unless he is specially exempt by reason of a conscientious objection to trade union membership. It is important to emphasize again that the trade union rights apply equally to applicants for jobs.
