Do we dare to observe to what extent labour law specialists may sometimes paradoxically be seized with doubt when faced with the following question: is the effectiveness of labour law always desirable? Thus, for example and in a spirit of friendly provocation, how should we react to the conditions imposed by UK law on the freedom to take collective action? While this freedom really exists, the trade unions have to ‘‘sail close to the wind’’ to benefit from the immunity provided bylaw in cases of industrial conflict. The conditions imposed by law are such that, from a continental European standpoint, it is difficult to understand how industrial action can be implemented. This does not prevent both the freedom and the law that restricts it from being effective!(Carby-Hall,2006).