In Middlesbrough, Labour's Andy McDonald, a solicitor for a trade union law firm and former councillor, won with 10, 201 votes to UKIP candidate Richard Elvin's 1, 990.

BBC: By-elections: Labour retains three seats

Though some of his officials are taking a more conciliatory line, Mr Chavez himself has shown no signs of backing down from his plan to approve a new trade-union law, and then to organise elections for union leaders.

ECONOMIST: Venezuela: Voters strike | The

He doubts that changes in the law now will bring back trade union militancy.

ECONOMIST: Trade unions

Zimbabwe's trade union movement says it has reduced to just one day a general strike called to press the government to restore law and order.

BBC: Zimbabwe unions scale back strike

First the policy has been challenged by wine-producing European Union nations such as France, Italy and Spain amid claims that it breaches EU law on free trade.

BBC: Minimum pricing having a difficult birth in Scotland