§ 14. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet considered the Memorandum of Agreement regarding rates of pay and conditions of employment in industrial centres in factories submitted to him by the National Joint Industrial Council for the Industrial Catering Trade and acknowledged by him on 25th July, 1942; and whether as this agreement sets forth conditions agreed to by employers and the unions chiefly concerned, he will see his way to the application of the Essential Work Order to this industry in order to enable firms to find the necessary personnel to provide meals for their employees?
§ Mr. BevinI have considered this Memorandum and am not at present prepared to apply the Essential Work Order to the establishments referred to. I am writing on the subject to the National Joint Industrial Council.
§ Sir A. KnoxDoes the right hon. Gentleman not agree that this Joint Industrial Council was formed between the employers and the two unions chiefly concerned, that is, the National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers and the National Union of General and Municipal Workers, and is it not right, as they have agreed on the terms of employment, that they should be granted this Essential Work Order, and not have to wait for the right hon. Gentleman to confirm the general proposals for conditions of working in hotels, restaurants and tea shops?
§ Mr. BevinThe waiting has nothing to do with the Bill dealing with catering or conditions arising out of that Bill. The obligation under the Essential Work Order is that I have to tie a citizen to a job, and I am not satisfied that under this agreement I should be justified in taking that course.
§ Sir A. KnoxCan the right hon. Gentleman say what the objection is, as the unions and the employers have agreed?
§ Sir A. KnoxIs it not collective bargaining?