HC Deb 22 June 1976 vol 913 cc1353-5
14. Mr. Gow

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees have been dismissed for refusing to join a trade union since 1st January 1976; and whether he is satisfied with the operation of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act so far as the closed shop is involved.

Mr. Harold Walker

The information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes".

Mr. Gow

But does not the Minister think that he ought to obtain that information? Ought not the Government to take steps to protect the livelihood of those individuals, many of whom have given a lifetime of service to an industry and who are now being dismissed for no other reason than that they wish to exercise their right of free conscience?

Mr. Walker

The Government have no power to obtain the information that the hon. Member seeks. I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman suggests that the Government should take that power.

Even the hon. Gentleman's own Government in 1971 had to throw away their attempts at a complete outlawing of the closed shop and to recognise that there was a place for it in some industries. Our position in these matters is one of strict neutrality, leaving it to people in industry to handle these matters for themselves.

Mr. Ioan Evans

Will my hon. Friend agree that in the history of the growth of the trade union movement there have been many thousands of trade unionists who have lost their jobs for daring to join a trade union? Will he also agree that it should now be the task of the House and of people on all sides to encourage all working people to join their appropriate union?

Mr. Walker

My hon. Friend is quite right in saying that there has been a long record of victimisation and blacklisting of people for their trade union activities. I hope that the House will join my hon. Friend in encouraging members of trade unions.

Mr. Hayhoe

Will the Minister join with decent people in condemning the sacking of those who have served a lifetime in an industry and not been members of a trade union? Is it not intolerable that the closed shop should be used in this way to sack that sort of person?

Mr. Walker

I think that the hon. Gentleman and the House ought first to appreciate that what the Government have done is to restore the legal position to what it was in 1970, before the Conservative Government introduced their disastrous Industrial Relations Act, with all the evil consequences and damage which flowed from that.

There is now a tribunal to which recourse is available for those who may feel that they have been unjustly dismissed. There is specific exemption in the 1974 Act for those who have genuine religious objections to membership of a trade union. If there have been unfair dismissals, the proper recourse of the people concerned is to the tribunal.

Mr. Gow

I beg to give notice that I shall seek leave to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.

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