Trade Unions (Mergers) (Hansard, 11 June 1974)

§ 15. Mr. Madel
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what recent discussions he has had with the TUC on the merger of trade unions in specific industries to form single craft unions for such industries; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Booth
My right hon. Friend has had no such discussions. It would be a matter for the trade unions themselves.

§ Mr. Madel
In view of the many difficulties that occur in industry due to inter-union rivalries, may we take it that one of the first tasks of the new conciliation and arbitration service will be to promote and facilitate the merger of unions in certain industries?

§ Mr. Booth
The trade unions have shown themselves well able to manage their own affairs in this respect. In recent years there has been a continuing process of amalgamations. In 1961 there were 655 unions with nearly 10 million members, whereas at the end of last year there were fewer than 500 unions, representing over 11 million members. There was, therefore, a reduction during that period of over 150 unions. One should relate this reduction to the number of employers' organisations. There are over 1,000 employers' organisations. The hon. Member might consider urging employers' associations to amalgamate.

§ Mr. Skinner
Does it make my hon. Friend feel a little sick to hear the statistics coming from the Opposition about amalgamations of unions when within the last two or three years Conservative Members, assisted by the Government Front Bench when they were in office, have been actively engaged in trying to get unions to splinter off and to register when the rest of the trade union movement was refusing to register, and have been encouraging associations of registered trade unions to work in conflict against the established trade union movement?

§ Mr. Booth
I agree with my hon. Friend, who has described admirably one of the adverse effects of the 1971 Act.

§ Mr. Hayhoe
Surely the Minister will accept that industrial disputes arising from inter-union rivalry damage the economy. Can he, however, give any instance of a dispute between employers' associations which has led to damage to the economy?

§ Mr. Booth
Disputes between employers' associations ostensibly come to light often only in the form of firms going bankrupt or rationalising facilities, which leads to curtailment of employment prospects.