§ 21. Mr. Moyleasked the Minister of Power whether on vesting day he will direct the Steel Corporation in consultation with the appropriate trade unions to provide national collective bargaining machinery for staff employees in the nationalised steel industry.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Iron and Steel Act, 1967, already requires the Corporation to consult the trade unions about the establishment of collective bargaining machinery covering all employees and at national, works and intermediate levels.
§ Mr. MoyleIs my hon. Friend aware that there is as yet no recognised staff trade union in the Steel Corporation's purview? It would be a pity if the nationalisation of the steel industry were allowed to pass without providing the staff with the protection of collective bargaining and the opportunity for trade union organisation.
§ Mr. FreesonThe Act requires the Corporation to act in the way I have stated. It is not for the Government to specify what form the trade union negotiating 1266 machinery should take. We are aware that the industry has been criticised by some of the unions involved, and we think that nationalisation will provide an opportunity for an improvement in this respect.