§ 97. Mr. H. Butlerasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that an inter-union dispute between the electrical trade union and the Transport and General Workers Union is retarding the construction of housing accommodation in 260W London; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this matter.
Mr. LeeThis dispute arose when an electrician was suspended by the London Electricity Board for refusing to work with a newly promoted mate who was not a member of the same union. The suspension led to a strike of electricians at the Bethnal Green Depot which has since spread to other electricians employed in contracting departments of the London Electricity Board and the Eastern Electricity Board; the number affected being now about 1,700. On 14th March a meeting of the National Joint Industrial Council for the Electricity Supply Industry was held, but since there is also a dispute whether the matter is within the jurisdiction of that Council its efforts to secure a settlement were unsuccessful. A meeting of interested parties was called by our Department for 16th March, but it proved impossible to find an acceptable basis for joint discussions embracing all the parties. My right hon. Friend is keeping the position under review.