§ Mr. Isaacs(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Labour whether he has any statement to make with regard to the strikes in the electrical contracting industry.
§ Sir W. MoncktonYes, Sir. The Court of Inquiry which reported on the dispute between the National Federated Electrical Association and the Electrical Trades Union early in October suggested that further negotiations should take place between the parties. This suggestion was followed but no agreement was reached on the union's claim for an increase in wages. The court had recommended that if that contingency arose the matter should be referred to arbitration. This was not however acceptable to the Union, who notified the Association that, unless they heard further from them, their members in various parts of the country and on various sites would be authorised to take official action. Officers of my Department had discussions with the parties but no basis for a settlement could be found. The Association thereupon reported a dispute under the Industrial Disputes Order. I have the report under consideration but, as matters stand at present, I have not thought it desirable to refer the dispute to the Tribunal.
During the past week the Union have called their members out on strike in different places and for varying periods, and yesterday they called a one-day stoppage in the industry. As a counteraction employers are refusing employment today to men who were on strike yesterday. There are indications that some further intensification of the dispute is under consideration.
837 A dispute also exists between the Electrical Contractors' Association of Scotland and the Electrical Trades Union and has been reported by the Association under the Industrial Disputes Order. There were no strikes in Scotland last week but the one-day stoppage applied to Scotland. I understand that there was a complete resumption of work in Scotland today.
I am continuing to watch the position. The services of my officers are still available to the parties, but there is no indication that they could usefully take any action at the present moment.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe House, I am sure, will be grateful to the right hon. and learned Gentleman for the full statement he has made, but in view of the latest development and the possibility of the dispute being extended, will he take the earliest opportunity—although I realise that sometimes one can be so early as to make a mistake—of bringing the parties together to see if he can get an adjustment?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for saying what he did about the dangers of acting too soon. One can often suffer from the itch to do something when one had better not do it. I am only satisfied that, as matters stand at present, there is nothing useful that I can yet do. If the chance comes, I shall not hesitate to take it.