Trades Unions Act 1889 (Tas)

Trades Unions Act 1889

An Act to legalize trades unions in Tasmania [Royal Assent 9 November 1889]

Be it enacted by His Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows:

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Trades Unions Act 1889 .

2. Interpretation (1) In this Act trade union means any combination, whether temporary or permanent, for regulating the relations between workmen and employers, or between workmen and workmen, or between employers and employers, or for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business, whether such combination would or would not if this Act had not passed have been deemed to have been an unlawful combination by reason of some one or more of its purposes being in restraint of trade: Provided that this Act shall not affect any agreement – (a) between partners as to their own business; (b) between an employer and those employed by him as to such employment; (c) in consideration of the sale of the goodwill of a business, or of instruction in any profession, trade, or handicraft. (2) In this Act, Commissioner means the Commissioner for Corporate Affairs holding office under section 4 of the Commissioner for Corporate Affairs Act 1980 , and includes any person holding that office in an acting capacity.

2A.

3. Trade union purposes not unlawful merely because in restraint of trade The purposes of any trade union shall not by reason merely that they are in restraint of trade be unlawful so as to – (a) render void or voidable any agreement or trust; or (b) render any member of such trade union liable to criminal prosecution for conspiracy.