HC Deb 23 March 1955 vol 538 cc2061-2
36. Mr. N. Macpherson

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many skilled aircraft mechanics employed by his Department recently signed a petition submitted to him by the Aeronautical Engineers' Association, seeking changes in their wages system; what proportion that number bears to the total number of skilled aircraft mechanics employed by his Department; and what channels of approach to his Department are open to these employees in view of the refusal of the Engineering Trades Joint Council to represent them.

Mr. Ward

The petition was returned to the Aeronautical Engineers' Association so that they might send it to the trade union side of the Engineering Trades Joint Council. The signatures were not counted in the Air Ministry, but if they numbered 1,152, as the Aeronautical Engineers' Association claim, this would represent 18 per cent.of the total number of engineering craftsmen employed by the Air Ministry in the United Kingdom. I am not aware that the trades unions on the Engineering Trades Joint Council have refused to represent these employees.

Mr. Macpherson

Will my hon. Friend make further inquiries about this matter, since all the information I have makes it quite clear that the Engineering Trades Joint Council will not deal with this Association in any way or receive any representations from it, so that its members are entirely disfranchised in trade union relationships?

Mr. Lee

Would the Minister also inquire into the basis of the so-called trade union and make sure that his Department has an agreement with the engineering unions concerned about how dilutees and matters of that sort should be handled?

Mr. Ward

Yes, Sir. The Air Ministry could not consider a pay claim for any engineering workers unless it were sponsored by their representatives on the trade union side of the Engineering Trades Joint Council, and that is a matter entirely for discussion between the unions concerned.

Mr. Macpherson

Will not my hon. Friend make representations to the Engineering Trades Joint Council to ensure that in some way it carries out its responsibilities, if those responsibilities are accepted, towards the members of the Aeronautical Engineers' Association?