HC Deb 14 October 1943 vol 392 cc1027-9
7. Mr. Norman Bower

asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any further information regarding the origin of the recent outbreak of unofficial strikes; what policy he proposes to adopt in order to deal with them; and whether he will seek powers to punish those responsible, whether employers, workers, or outsiders, by death or imprisonment for life?

Mr. Bevin

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made on 24th September in the course of the Debate on Man-Power, or to the reply which I gave on 23rd September to the Question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Bewdley (Major Conant).

19. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Minister of Labour whether arising out of the shipwrights strike on the Clyde and the Vickers-Armstrong strike at Barrow-in-Furness, he is considering modifications of the Essential Work Order for the purpose of speeding up negotiations and the rapid settlement of grievances?

Mr. Bevin

No, Sir. Any dispute can be reported under the Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Order, and the Order provides that where a dispute is so reported and steps taken to settle the matter do not result in a prompt settlement, the dispute must be referred to the National Arbitration Tribunal within 21 days from the date on which the dispute was reported.

Mr. Gallacher

Is the Minister not aware that employers can carry on negotiations for month after month—in the case of the shipwrights it was over nine months—until the workers are provoked into taking action which may be exceedingly undesirable, and then they come under the ban of the Minister? Would it not be better for the Minister to intervene long before things come to that point?

Mr. Bevin

That is not a statement of fact. The employers cannot carry on negotiations longer than the union is willing to carry them on. Immediately a union see that there is no possibility of a settlement they can report it, and as soon as they report it I have a legal obligation to refer it.

Mr. Kirkwood

Is the Minister not aware that in the case to which the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher) referred the shipwrights were negotiating for nine months before it came to a settlement?

Mr. Bevin

That may be, but the onus is upon the union if they cannot settle to refer the matter to me, and I do not propose to depart from the policy that we have followed during this war and proceed to take the responsibility off the hands of the respective parties.

20. Commander Sir Archibald Southby

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the names of all employers who have deliberately provoked strikes for ulterior reasons?

Mr. Bevin

No, Sir.

Sir A. Southby

Will my right hon. Friend say why not?

Mr. Bevin

I cannot add anything to what I have said.

Sir A. Southby

May I ask why in that case he made the allegation in the speech which he made in this House recently?

Mr. Bevin

There were very good grounds for it.

Mr. Shinwell

May I ask why it is that men's names are given if it is not alleged against them that they are responsible?

Mr. Bevin

If the hon. Member will look up Hansard, he will see that I referred to no names of either parties.

Sir A. Southby

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.