Crofter Hand Woven Harris Tweed Co Ltd v Veitch [1941] UKHL 2
Citation:Crofter Hand Woven Harris Tweed Co Ltd v Veitch [1941] UKHL 2
Rule of thumb:Can you legally boycott an organisation with unethical business practices? Yes, this is a valid reason – it does not have to be illegal practices being carried out to carry out a boycott- just legitimate reasons that there is verifiable public discontent with.
Background facts:
The basic facts of this case were that there were various mills in Lewis and Harris which manufactured jumpers. They manufactured these using hand crafted wool from the island. However, Crofter was seeking to import wool and make the clothing products cheaper. This meant that the other manufacturers were putting pressure on their workers to accept lower wages and worse working conditions so that they could compete with Crofter. Negotiations to try and sort the situation out had been going for some time without there being a clear resolution being proposed by either side. The Transport and General Workers Union agreed to boycott carrying the wool and cloth into the island which Crofter Hand Woven were using to manufacture their goods.
Parties argued:
Crofter Hand Woven sought an injunction and specific implement to stop this practice and they also sought damages for the losses caused for unlawful interference with contract. The Union argued that this boycott was done for a valid reason.
Judgment:
The Court held that as this boycott was a valid reason – unethical if not strictly illegal business practices is a valid reason to boycott an organisation.
Ratio-decidendi:
‘If the predominant purpose is the protection or promotion of any lawful interest of the combiners, then it is not a tortious conspiracy, even though it causes damage to another person’. Lord Simon.
Warning: This is not professional legal advice. This is not professional legal education advice. Please obtain professional guidance before embarking on any legal course of action. This is just an interpretation of a Judgment by persons of legal insight & varying levels of legal specialism, experience & expertise. Please read the Judgment yourself and form your own interpretation of it with professional assistance.