§ 23. Major Sir Jocelyn Lucasasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers represents no more than 15 per cent. of the woodworkers in the Royal Dockyards; and, in view of his recent decision to negotiate piece and job work with this association, what steps he proposes to take to safeguard the rights of the 85 per cent. of workers who are not represented by the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers.
Mr. DuģdaleNo, Sir. I am not in possession of direct evidence about the trade union membership of industrial employees of the Admiralty. As I pointed out in the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member on 20th March, the Admiralty, like other Government Departments, normally conducts the negotiation of schemes of payment by results exclusively with unions forming part of the Whitley organisation. In this case, the appropriate Whitley union is the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers. I am not prepared to accept the suggestion that the Admiralty or responsible trade union officials would be a party to any agreement prejudicing the rights of the main body of workpeople.
§ Sir J. LucasIn view of the fact that that is contrary to my information, would my hon. Friend say whether, in cases where the workers in the shipyards elect their own representatives and councils, he would take steps to reorganise the Whitley machinery in the yards?
Mr. DuģdaleI am afraid that it is quite outside the Admiralty to set about reorganising the Whitley machinery.
§ Mr. W. J. BrownIs it not the case that before any union can secure representation, either on the Civil Service National Whitley Council or the Industrial Whitley Council referred to here, it has to he demonstrated that it has representative capacity?