HC Deb 06 December 1966 vol 737 cc1123-5
6. Sir C. Osborne

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that local auth- orities do not dismiss employees merely on the ground that the refuse to join a trade union; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellish

There is a well established tradition, which my right hon. Friend does not propose to break, that local authorities should be left to manage their staff employment matters without interference from him. The operation of closed shop policies by employers generally, including local authorities, comes within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations.

Sir C. Osborne

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that Barnsley Corporation has dismissed a little man, a part-time labourer, because the National Union of General and Municipal Workers imposed a £6 fine on him which he refused to pay? Will the Minister do something to stop this petty tyranny by local authorities and trade unions?

Mr. Mellish

The hon. Gentleman quotes an individual case. Our Department has no evidence that any local authority services are in jeopardy from the operation of closed shop policies. This must be a matter that is left to people at local level, and let me remind the hon. Gentleman that they are elected locally.

Mr. Bob Brown

Does my hon. Friend not concede that a trade union has the right to impose penalties within its own rules on members who break or defy the union's rules?

Sir C. Osborne

The man is not a member.

Mr. Mellish

Many people in this country are willing and prepared to hold out their hands and take whatever increased wages the trade unions get for them without making the slightest contribution to the particular trade union concerned.

Mr. Allason

Would the Parliamentary Secretary take into account the Minister of Labour's known attitude towards the closed shop and not try to shuffle this off until the Royal Commission has reported, which will be a considerable time?

Mr. Mellish

I am not trying to shuffle anything off. But this argument is out of proportion. One would believe that all local authorities are in a great deal of chaos because of the closed shop principle. We have no evidence of that, and this must be a matter to be decided at local level and not by the Minister.

Mr. Rankin

Will my hon. Friend assure the House that he will do his best to make certain that we do not return to the days when Tory employers used to sack men for being trade unionists?

Mr. Mellish

That is another side of the argument. It is not the Government's policy to interfere with local government on matters of this kind.

Mr. Rippon

Will the Parliamentary Secretary at least give an assurance that it is not the Government's policy to encourage this sort of petty tyranny, and will he understand that what is at stake is not the efficiency of the local government services but the rights of individuals?

Mr. Mellish

The rights of individuals and, of course, the rights of majorities must also never be ignored.