HC Deb 05 November 1973 vol 863 cc585-6
1. Mr. Molloy

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what further staff negotiations are anticipated throughout his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (Sir John Eden)

Negotiations with the staff in my Department mainly concern local matters covered by normal Whitley procedures. Negotiations in respect of Post Office staff are the responsibility of the Post Office.

Mr. Molloy

Is the Minister aware that there is growing grave discontent among all members of the staff of the corporation who feel that the assurance given to them when the corporation was created—namely, that the status they enjoyed as civil servants would not be impaired—is not being honoured? They are aggravated that the Pay Board has said that, while the Civil Service is placed in a special category, the staff of the corpora- tion are not so placed. Would the Minister be prepared to see representatives of the staff to go into this problem in some detail to curb this growing discontent and restore their status?

Sir J. Eden

I am aware of the strength of feeling about this subject. This was a matter which was deployed before the Pay Board, as a result of which it made its report on anomalies. I was naturally present when my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Employment saw a number of the unions concerned.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

Did the Minister observe the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) who invited him to take positive action in this matter? We are well aware that the right hon. Gentleman was present when the Prime Minister met union representatives on this vital issue. Does the Minister recall the specific undertaking given by his predecessor to Post Office staff generally that they would not lose out in the transformation from Civil Service status to Post Office Corporation status? The decision of the Pay Board relating to anomalies will produce a situation in which Post Office staff will lose out. Will the Minister take action in this matter?

Sir J. Eden

I know that it was one of the consequences of the Post Office Act 1969 that the unions employed within the Post Office Corporation were not treated exactly on a par with the Civil Service, as they had been previously.

Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

May I put it to the Minister that, while we wish the Post Office to have complete independence on this as on other matters, we do not want the Government leaning on the corporation in a dispute of this kind? The dispute has gone on long enough and we hope that the Minister will allow the corporation to exercise independence in making what efforts it can to resolve the dispute.

Sir J. Eden

It is not a matter of the Government leaning on anybody. This is a subject that was deployed before the Pay Board, which gave full consideration to the points made by the Post Office unions.