HC Deb 20 January 1969 vol 776 cc48-51

Mr. Stodart (by Private Notice) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the position at two Scottish airports following upon the withdrawal by B.E.A. of their services there.

The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. William Rodgers)

The recent decision by B.E.A. to withdraw all their air services from the Board of Trade aerodromes at Edinburgh (Turnhouse) and Aberdeen (Dyce) is the unhappy consequence of a series of lightning strikes by certain categories of ground staff at these aerodromes.

A claim has been made for parity of rates and conditions with employees of the British Airports Authority, or, in the short term, with employees of Glasgow municipal airport.

But in the past the rates of pay of the staff concerned have been determined not by analogy with B.A.A. rates which, if accepted, would result in increases in basic rates varying from 7 per cent. to 15 per cent., but with those of Scottish municipal employees.

As a result of a pay settlement for these employees, and in line with Prices and Incomes Policy, an increase of 3½ per cent., or 13s. 4d. a week, on rates has been offered. This offer has been refused, and in furtherance of the dispute there has been a series of lightning strikes and a refusal to undertake certain duties such as snow clearance.

B.E.A. has felt unable to tolerate repeated interruptions to its services and the inconvenience to its passengers. It has, therefore, withdrawn its services pending a return to normal conditions.

I am meeting representatives of the union mainly concerned this Wednesday. In the meantime, I am sure that the House will join me in regretting the inconvenience being caused to intending passengers and others by this dispute. I hope very much that good sense will lead to the strikes being called off.

I am sure, too, that nobody will wish to say or do anything which would make a settlement more difficult or protracted.

Mr. Stodart

Is the Minister fully aware of the inconvenience being caused to travellers and the possible loss of business orders which is being aggravated by the longer distances to travel and the much colder weather at this time of year in Scotland? Will he strive for a settlement of this dispute very urgently?

Does the hon. Gentleman recall the shutting down of Abbotsinch, not very long ago, and the ultimate outcome of the demands that were being made there?

Finally, is the hon. Gentleman aware that it is very difficult for the public to understand why wage rates and earnings at Turnhouse seem to be going to be between £1 and 30s. a week lower than those at Abbotsinch even after his offer has been made?

Mr. Rodgers

I am fully aware of the inconvenience. It is a most unfortunate dispute and we should like to see an end to it as soon as possible. Certainly, we hope that while any negotiations go on there will be no further strikes, which serve no useful purpose whatsoever. This should be particularly borne in mind in view of the meeting I am to have this week with the union principally concerned.

I also fully understand that there is an apparent anomaly in the rates both at present paid and offered between Turn-house and some other airports. However, the fact remains that in the past the analogy has always been with Scottish municipal employees. On that basis the employees at Turnhouse would be entitled to 3½ per cent., which has been offered, but they are asking for a change of practice and a very much larger increase.

Mr. Dalyell

Concerning Wednesday's meeting, may we have an assurance that the approach will be to a possible fruitful productivity deal? Does my hon. Friend realise that many of these skilled firemen, if a settlement is not reached soon, may get permanent jobs at places such as the British Motor Corporation, at Bathgate, which is paying £4 a week more for a similar job?

Mr. Rodgers

Productivity could be investigated and it will be looked at, though, as I say, no proposal on this matter has yet come from the union. I also understand the full implications, which certainly can go wider than inconvenience, however unpleasant and unfortunate, to passengers at the present time.

Mr. David Steel

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that five days of stoppages going by before meeting the union does not convey a sense of great urgency by the Board of Trade in the matter? During the few days since the stoppages began I have had three letters from exporting firms in my constituency affected, first, by rail closures on the Borders and now by withdrawal of air services from Edinburgh. This is resulting in delay in delivery of export orders, which is serious to firms in that area.

Will the hon. Gentleman consult his right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport to see that British Railways are putting on additional services?

Mr. Rodgers

I will draw the attention of my right hon. Friend to the hon. Gentleman's last point.

On the first point, we have a very full sense of urgency. I have made clear before the importance of finding a settlement and the need to call off the strikes. I have been prepared at any point to meet the unions if it would produce a settlement, but there are awkward and complex factors involved and we must not take any step whose wide implications would be damaging.

Mr. Noble

Does the Minister agree that this is a situation far beyond what he calls "inconvenience"? We have had at Abbotsinch, as has been said, very long experience of negotiations leading nowhere on this sort of operation. Is the Minister fully aware that this is an urgent matter and should be dealt with urgently?

Mr. Rodgers

It is urgent, it is being dealt with urgently, and I hope that the settlement, when reached, will stand for some time.

Mr. Rankin

While I have a great deal of sympathy with what my hon. Friend has said in his reply, may I ask him to bear in mind that the porter who carries a passenger's baggage on to the 6 p.m. plane going from London to Aberdeen is paid more than the porter at Aberdeen who takes that baggage off? Is that not an injustice and a difference in payment for doing the same job that is bound to cause trouble and is the basic reason for the strike at Dyce, just as it was the basic reason for the strike at Glasgow Airport?

Mr. Rodgers

While not necessarily accepting my hon. Friend's example, it can be argued that there is no basic difference in work between certain airports. However, this is no reason why there should be lightning strikes at present. Nor does it necessarily imply that an increase in excess of 3½ per cent. can be afforded.