However, the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union applied for an injunction in the Chancery Division of the High Court to enjoin the General-Secretary of its Tower Hill branch from calling its members out on strike. Mr Justice Astbury granted the injunction by ruling that no trade dispute could exist between the TUC and "the government of the nation"Lee S. J. 1996 Aspects of British Political History 1914–1995 p 90] and that except for the strike in the coal industry, the general strike was not protected by Trade Disputes Act 1906. In addition, he ruled that the strike in the plaintiff union had been called in contravention of its own rules. As a result, the unions involved became liable, by common law, for incitement to breach of contract and faced potential sequestration of their assets by employers.
However, the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union applied for an injunction in the Chancery Division of the High Court to enjoin the General-Secretary of its Tower Hill branch from calling its members out on strike. Mr Justice Astbury granted the injunction by ruling that no trade dispute could exist between the TUC and "the government of the nation"Lee S. J. 1996 Aspects of British Political History 1914–1995 p 90] and that except for the st,rike in the coal industry, the general strike was not protected by Trade Disputes Act 1906 In addition he ruled that the strike in th,e plaintiff uni.on had been called in contravention of its own rules. As a result, the unions involved became liable by common law, for incitement to breach of contract and faced potential sequestration of their assets by employers.