Employers and Workmen Act 1875

Employers and Workmen Act 1875^[1]
Act of Parliament
	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to enlarge the powers of County Courts in respect of disputes between Employers and Workmen, and to give other Courts a limited civil jurisdiction in respect of such disputes.
Citation	38 & 39 Vict. c. 90
Dates
Royal assent	13 August 1875
Commencement	1 September 1875, except so far as the act authorised any thing to be done at any time after 13 August 1875
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Employers and Workmen Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c. 90)^[3] was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, enacted during Benjamin Disraeli's second administration. The Act extended to Ireland, which at that time was part of the United Kingdom. This Act was repealed for Great Britain by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973.

Background

The act purported to place both sides of industry in equal footing allowing all breaches of contract to be covered by civil law. Prior to the act, employers were subjected to civil law which could result in a fine while employees could be subjected to criminal law which may have led to a fine and imprisonment. Disraeli proudly commented, "We have settled the long and vexatious contest between capital and labour" and hoped this would "gain and retain for the Conservatives the lasting affection of the working classes".^{[citation needed]}

Content

Section 3(3) was interpreted by the courts to allow an award of specific performance for completion of work.

Section 4 was interpreted to mean that a worker who was absent from work could be prosecuted and pay damages to his employer (even if the employer could not show a monetary loss on ordinary principles).

Section 15 noted that in Ireland, the senior judicial officer was the Lord Chancellor of Ireland and the county courts in Ireland were known as the Civil Bill Courts.

References

Thomas James Arnold. The Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act, 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c. 86), and the Employers and Workmen Act, 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c. 90). Shaw & Sons. Fetter Lane and Crane Court, London. 1876. Google Books.
George Howell. A Handy-Book of the Labour Laws. Third Edition, Revised. Macmillan & Co. London (and New York). 1895. Chapters 1 to 3. Pages 1 to 36.