HC Deb 15 December 1948 vol 459 cc1184-7
12. Mr. Turton

asked the Postmaster-General whether in view of the present disparity between the wages of non-skilled industrial employees at Government engineering industrial establishments and the wages of labourers and skilled workmen, Class II (B), employed by the Post Office Engineering Department, he will set up a court of inquiry to consider the wage claim of the Post Office Engineering Union.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

No, Sir. My Department is still discussing the claims with the Union.

Mr. Turton

Is the Postmaster-General aware that many men in the Post Office Engineering Union are meanwhile having to go out into private enterprise where the pay is more commensurate with their skill; and as this matter has been going on since April, will he not grant them a court of inquiry?

Mr. Paling

I have just said that negotiations are at present going on. I do not want to say anything in detail until these negotiations are settled.

Mr. Platts-Mills

While these discussions are going on, will the Postmaster-General bear in mind, that it is said among the engineers in Mount Pleasant, that no one in England is on the maximum figure of pay, and that a man cannot get the maximum until he reaches the age of 34? Is he aware that these men, who are a most highly skilled group of men, are receiving less than some manual workers, while the Department they serve has increased its profits by 1,000 per cent.? Is he also aware that many of these men are below a subsistence level.

Mr. A. Edward Davies

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied, in the course of these inquiries, that the men are getting a minimum living wage, at a time when they most need it, to enable them and their families to live in decency?

Mr. Paling

Naturally, all these facts are taken into consideration when one is negotiating a settlement.

Wing-Commander Hulbert

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication when these negotiations will be finalised?

Mr. Paling

I am always a little doubtful about giving a time in these matters, but I hope it will be shortly.

Wing-Commander Hulbert

That is what the right hon. Gentleman said a month ago.

Mr. Rankin

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a good deal of discontent that exists in the Post Office Engineering Union is due to the fact that members feel there is a certain amount of camouflage in regard to the total cost of this scheme, because in Glasgow there are no labourers whatever and the Class II B skilled workers are very limited in numbers?

Mr. Speaker

We are not the negotiating body. That is another body.

19. Mr. Gammans

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now say what is the reason for the delay of seven months in dealing with the claim of certain sections of the Post Office Engineering Union for an increase in pay.

17. Sir Peter Macdonald

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cause of the delay in coming to a decision regarding the wage claims, which were submitted to his Department on 26th April last by the Post Office Engineering Unions; and when he expects to arrive at a decision.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

Hon. Members will appreciate that these matters cannot be dealt with in isolation. My Department put proposals to the Union on the 12th November, and discussions are still in progress.

Mr. Gammans

What justification is there for seven months, and will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to inform the steelworkers that this is what will happen to them when they become Government servants?

20. Mr. Gammans

asked the Postmaster-General what is the average rate of pay of skilled worker Class II(A) employed in the telecommunications department of the Post Office as compared with the average wages paid to skilled men in private industry.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Mile End (Mr. Piratin) on Wednesday, 1st December.

Mr. Gammans

Is it not a fact that there is such a great disparity that men are leaving the telephone service, and what is the justification for under-paying Government servants in comparison with private enterprise?

Mr. Paling

I do not think they are leaving the service in great numbers. Again I am driven back to the fact that this question cannot be dealt with in isolation. We have made an offer to these people, and we hope that a settlement will be reached before long.

21. Mr. Gammans

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the exceptional number of resignations of skilled members of the engineering department of the London Telecommunications Region of the Post Office as compared with before the war.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

Wastage through voluntary resignation among skilled members of the engineering department of the London Telecommunications Region, though higher than before the war, is at the annual rate of about 4 per cent. of the total staff.

Mr. Gammans

Is it not the case that there was practically no wastage before the war in this department; and is the reason for the men leaving this highly skilled service due to the fact that they can get a far higher rate of wages outside?

Mr. Paling

I think that may be one of the reasons, and it is also a fact that there are far more jobs from which to choose.

Mr. Cobb

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this rate of wastage compares very favourably with that obtaining today in similar industries?

Mr. Gallacher

Cannot the Government agree with this campaign of the Tories for increased wages and increase them all round at the Tories' expense?