§ 8. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that the Coventry District Committee of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions has decided unanimously to recommend to its affiliated unions to support strike action taken by members who collectively refuse to work with persons recruited by employers through private fee-charging agencies; and what steps he proposes to take in the intersets of industrial peace.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am aware of this resolution but I have no knowledge of any dispute arising from the employment of workers recruited through a private fee-charging agency. Any such dispute would be a matter for discussion in the first place between the employers and trade union concerned. In the event of failure to reach a settlement, the services of my Department would, of course, be available.
§ Miss BurtonIs the Minister aware that the Confederation in Coventry has taken every step to try to bring home to him the seriousness with which they regard this matter, and that they think it quite wrong that private enterprise should make money out of men out of work? Is there anything at all he can do to hasten some decision on the matter without waiting for the Home Secretary?
§ Mr. MacleodThe action suggested in the Question would be in breach of the procedure agreement, and a more appropriate action would be to consult the employers' association in the first place. I think that the hon. Lady is on rather dangerous ground, because what she is suggesting is that because of a threat of industrial action, which would be in breach of the procedure, the Government should proceed to make illegal what is at the present time perfectly legal. I think that if the hon. Lady pursues that she will find that it is something which she would not like to support.