HC Deb 21 January 1943 vol 386 cc269-70
12. Mr. Kendall

asked the Minister of Labour whether, seeing that the control of the Lincolnshire Road Car Company has been transferred from the British Electric Traction undertaking to the Tilling Group, that the workers do not have the same facilities to transfer their services to other managements, and that negotiations have recently taken place with the unions concerned for an agreement covering the employees in the garages of the same company, he will support the National Union of Railway-men for the reopening of negotiations with the Lincolnshire Road Car Company to improve the present unsatisfactory conditions under which the omnibus drivers and conductresses are now working?

Mr. Bevin

Negotiations with regard to wages and conditions can be conducted through the recognised machinery in the industry, and I do not propose to interfere.

Mr. W. Brown

Is not the Minister aware that there has already been one fair-sized strike in this concern, which culminated in a number of prosecutions, and since the conditions which gave rise to that strike still persist and may give rise to another, is he powerless to take the initiative in preventing further trouble?

Mr. Bevin

No; under the conditions of the Arbitration Order we agreed to recognise the machinery operating in the trade, and that machinery is functioning.