HC Deb 26 June 1961 vol 643 cc17-9
22. Mr. Skeet

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement about the strike at Smith's Motor Accessories of Cricklewood.

Mr. Hare

This is an unofficial strike in support of a claim for higher wages. The procedure of the engineering industry for dealing with disputes has not been exhausted and the unions mainly concerned have instructed their members to return to work so that their claim may be dealt with through the procedure. I have asked the unions to take urgent steps to secure an early resumption of work and I very much hope their efforts will be successful. It is most regrettable that a group of workers should take unofficial and unconstitutional action contraary to their own unions' instructions, most especially when this action throws thousands of their fellow workers out of employment, damages the good name of the trade union movement, and weakens a great industry which is vital to the prosperity of this country.

Mr. Skeet

The Minister seems to have conceded two points. First, the strike is causing disproportionate injury to industry elsewhere. [HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] I am coming to the question. The second point is that the strike is unofficial. What security have the public, workers in industry generally, and also the export drive in such a situation as this, or do we have to say that this is one of the irreconcilable problems of democracy?

Mr. Hare

I think that my hon. Friend has had a very clear expression of my feeling, which I think is shared by hon. Members on both sides of the House. I earnestly hope that as we get better understanding on these matters between both sides of industry incidents of this sort will not arise and, therefore, will not have the consequences to which I have just pointed.

Mr. Lindsay

I acknowledge the outstanding efforts my right hon. Friend is making to bring about better relations in this industry. May I ask him if he has seen the statement by prominent trade union leaders that there is a connection between this stoppage and the one at Lucas's—the connection being a subversive movement with headquarters overseas? Will he get in touch with these trade union leaders to see if he can give them any assistance in their admirable intention of making this fact widely known?

Mr. Hare

I have seen the newspaper reports to which my hon. Friend has referred, but I have no clear information on the subject. I think that there is a great deal of confusion in the minds of the strikers. When there is a great deal of confusion in the minds of strikers, it always lends itself to subversive influence.

Mr. Lee

Is the Minister aware that we on this side of the House join with him in hoping that the strikers will take note of the advice given by the trade union leaders and return to work? Is he aware also that there is still only one nation in the world with a better strike record than the United Kingdom? Will the Minister inquire into this case and find out if it is a fact that the workers concerned cannot get access to higher management? In many industries which are now enlarging, when there is a large firm with a number of ancillaries, the workshop machinery for negotiating cannot function because the employers will not give proper powers of decision to people other than the higher management itself.

Mr. Hare

I agree with what the hon. Member said in the first part of his supplementary question, and I will certainly take note of what he said at the end.

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