THE DOCK STRIKE (Hansard, 19 October 1954)

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, I feel that the House may wish to have the latest information with regard to the position in the dock strike. I hope therefore that noble Lords will forgive me if I interrupt the business of the House to make a statement which is being made in another place by the Minister of Labour. Following is the statement: The strike in the London Docks began on 28th September when a dispute over the sorting of a cargo of meat resulted in an unofficial stoppage of work. On 1st October, the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers decided to declare an official strike on and from 4th October. The members of this union were subsequently joined by large numbers of men belonging to the Transport and General Workers Union, who ceased work in sympathy, although their action is entirely unofficial and against the advice of their union. On 17th October, the Watermen, Lightermen, Tugmen and Bargemen's Union called out their members and the work of the Port of London is now practically at a standstill. The stoppage has since spread to Birkenhead and Liverpool, though at the latter port a substantial number of men still remain at work. The stoppage by the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers on 4th October was to enforce their demand that besides the question of meat sorting, discussions with the employers should take place on all outstanding matters. Discussions on these matters had not taken place because of a ban on overtime which the National Amalgamated Stevedores and 450 Dockers had imposed in January last in support of their contention that the Dock Labour Scheme does not place a registered port worker under any obligation to work overtime. Since, as I shall explain later, I have set up a Court of Inquiry"— these are the words of my right honourable friend— I do not want to attempt to define this, which is the central issue, too precisely. Efforts were made early in the year by officers of my Department and by myself to assist in reaching a settlement of this question but these were not successful. When I saw the employers' and unions' representatives last week, it was clear that the overtime question was still the real issue, but it was equally clear that no progress could be made by negotiation at this stage. Having in mind that I might therefore find it necessary to appoint a Court of Inquiry, I emphasised to the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers the gravity of the situation which the stoppage had caused, and asked them if, in the event of my setting up a Court of Inquiry, they would call off the strike. I pointed out that this could be done whether or not the overtime ban was maintained. I felt that this suggestion could have been accepted by them in the national interest, without in any way prejudicing their case before the Court of Inquiry, but the union refused to take this course. I have now set up a Court of Inquiry into the causes and circumstances of the dispute. The Court has already held a preliminary meeting and will be sitting to-morrow. I hope that the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers will even now reconsider the decision and call off the strike in the knowledge that they can do so without in the least damaging the case which they wish to present to the Court. The stoppage in the London docks is having a serious effect on the country's export trade, it is endangering food supplies, and threatens to cause unemployment in other industries. If the stoppage continues, the effects will become progressively more serious and 451 the economic life of the nation will be endangered. The Government are, of course, watching the situation closely and will take any steps which may become necessary to protect the national interest.