Final answer:
Section 179 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 is non-existent; instead, the historical context of labor relations and relevant acts like the Taft-Hartley and Wagner Acts are significant, with the former allowing presidential intervention in labor disputes as demonstrated in the 2015 longshoremen’s union incident.
Step-by-step explanation:
Section 179 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 does not actually exist; rather, our attention should be directed towards the historical context of labor relations and legislations such as the Taft-Hartley Act and National Labor Relations Act, commonly known as the Wagner Act. The Taft-Hartley Act, applied by President Obama as mentioned in the case of the longshoremen's union work stoppage in 2015, exemplifies presidential authority to intervene in labor disputes under certain conditions. This act permits the imposition of an 80-day "cooling-off period" to allow for negotiations without the disruption of a work stoppage.
The dispute highlighted the union's resistance against the adoption of new technologies such as handheld scanners and computer-operated cabs that could potentially replace union jobs, a fear rooted in the protection of employment. Eventually, federal mediators facilitated an agreement that incorporated the new technologies while maintaining robust wages, health, and pension benefits for workers.
The function of federal intervention in labor disputes underscores the delicate balance between technological advancement, job security, and the government's role in industrial relations, all significant within the broader framework of labor legislation like the Wagner Act, which established workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively, and the Taft-Hartley Act's influence on labor unions and their negotiations with employers.