HC Deb 02 July 1958 vol 590 cc1321-2
36. Mr. N. Pannell

asked the Minister of Labour the number of man-days lost as a result of the recent unofficial strike at the London docks.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The number of working days lost in the recent stoppage in the London and Tilbury docks is estimated at about 330,000.

Mr. Pannell

Will my right hon. Friend confirm that this was one of the most serious dock strikes since the introduction of the Dock Labour Scheme?

Mr. Macleod

Yes. It had a very serious effect. It is not always easy to compare strikes, but it was probably as serious a strike as we have had for about ten years.

37. Mr. N. Pannell

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he proposes to take to avoid a repetition of the recent unofficial London dock strike.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Unofficial strikes are unquestionably a most serious problem, and one that from their nature are difficult to resolve by normal methods. Few if any of the suggestions sometimes put forward for lessening the risk of strikes have much relevance to unofficial stoppages where the main responsibility for avoiding such stoppages rests on the trade unions concerned.

I have appointed a Committee of Investigation to examine the causes and circumstances of the meat transport dispute, itself an unofficial strike in which the unofficial London dock strike had its origin.

Mr. Pannell

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that these irresponsible unofficial dock strikes, which are so damaging to the country's economy, are symptomatic of a deep malaise in the industry and call for urgent discussions between representatives of the employers and of the trade unions with a view to amending the Dock Labour Scheme?

Mr. Macleod

No, I was more sympathetic with the beginning of my hon. Friend's supplementary question than with the end. This was a very serious strike indeed, and serious unofficial strikes are, of course, a curse to industry and disruptive of the authority of the unions. There had, however, been a considerable period of peace in dockland before this strike took place. Although there are aspects of the Dock Labour Scheme which I am discussing and in due course will bring to the attention of the House, I would not suggest a radical amendment.

Mr. Robens

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that there is adequate machinery within the present scheme for consultation between the employers and the trade union? Would he not agree also that the trade union officials in all these cases have worked with him and through their other officials to bring peace to the industry and are themselves very much against unofficial strikes?

Mr. Macleod

Yes, I would agree with what the right hon. Gentleman has said; but it is also true that all the efforts that the union made in this long dispute in dockland failed, and as a result we have had these particular difficulties.