HC Deb 10 February 1966 vol 724 cc587-8
6. Mr. McMaster

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what agreement has been reached with the trade unions involved on the subject of demarcation and transferability of skilled labour as a condition of the Government's agreement to assist Fairfields; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. George Brown

I am pleased to report that all concerned in the shipyard have readily accepted the objective of more flexible working practices and greater interchangeability of workers, and a number of useful talks to this end have already taken place between the management and union officials. Negotiating procedures are now being drawn up, but it will obviously take some time to carry through the necessary changes.

Mr. McMaster

Has a firm agreement been reached with these workers to get rid of demarcation? If so, what price is being paid to them in the form of increased wages and what effect will this have on other yards?

Mr. Brown

I have a feeling that the hon. Gentleman prepared that supplementary question before he heard my Answer. If he will be good enough to read the Answer, he will see that it deals with that.

Mr. Barber

The right hon. Gentleman will surely agree that the whole basis of the original proposals which he put before the House was that the injection of public money would be dependent on firm undertakings by the unions and not on mere acceptance of objectives which have not yet been worked out.

Mr. Brown

I must say that the right hon. Gentleman shows an astonishing ignorance of these things. Before firm agreement can be made, there has to be agreement on firm objectives. Having got that, one then proceeds to work out arrangements, which is exactly what I said we were doing.

Mr. Rankin

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the employees at Fairfields at all levels are co-operating exceptionally well with the management and that things are now proceeding in an excellent fashion and that nothing hon. Members opposite can do will stop that?

Mr. George Y. Mackie

Is the First Secretary aware that if the workers in the Fairfields Yard had been offered shares directly in the company it might have had more effect on co-operation than the unions putting in money?

Mr. Brown

That seems to be a different question. The important thing at this stage is to get a change in attitudes and practices in the yard required both in that yard and as a lead for the rest of this vital industry. It is that which we are doing at the moment.

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