HC Deb 31 January 1958 vol 581 cc117-8W
Mr. Awbery

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that a notice was issued to the Royal Naval establishments at Malta, on 22nd January, stating that the Admiralty would not continue to condone interruptions of dockyard work; if he has now received a resolution from the workers' union stating that they consider the notice to be intimidation of them and a direct attempt to undermine the authority of the union and its rights to take any legitimate action on measures of importance which may arise; and what reply he has given.

Mr. T. G. D. Galbraith

The purpose of the statement to which the hon. Member refers was, firstly, to allay the anxiety of the civilian employees in Malta Dockyard about their future and, secondly, to clarify the Admiralty's position should further interruptions of work occur. No intimidation was intended and the value of a full understanding between management and employees was emphasised.

My noble Friend has seen the resolution passed by the General Workers' Union but cannot see what justification the union has to interpret the statement in the way they have done.

Following is the text of the statement: The General Workers' Union has seen fit on three recent occasions to call short strikes in protest against reductions at Malta Dockyard. The Secretary of State for the Colonies has confirmed recently, in his messages to the Maltese Government of the 29th November, 3rd December and 4th January, to which reference should be made, that there is absolutely no question of closing Malta Dockyard overnight. So far as can be foreseen at present, the number of civilian employees with the Admiralty in Malta in the next three years will not have fallen below a figure of the order of 12,000, as compared with the current figure of about 13,200. Some discharges will be necessary but the bulk of the reduction is expected to be achieved by not replacing wastage due to retirements, resignations and other normal causes. The Admiralty fully understand the anxiety which employees must feel. Everything has however been done to make the immediate future clear, and the Admiralty cannot in these circumstances continue to condone interruptions of the Dockyard's work. No employer could. Notice is accordingly given that should further strikes occur, the Dockyard management will introduce the following measures:—

  1. (a) Reduce paid leave entitlement of all employees who participate in the strike, in accordance with Standing Order 9/56.
  2. (b) Examine the position of established men who strike. The established employee undertakes to render faithful service at all times to use his best endeavours for the advantage of Her Majesty.
  3. (c) Endorse the records of unestablished employees who strike so that their suitability for establishment can be more clearly assessed when their turn comes.
The Admiralty value the maintenance of a full understanding between management and employees. The management will accordingly keep the associations and union representatives fully in touch with decisions affecting the livelihood of the employees. In return, it looks confidently to those representatives to avoid measures which cannot assist the natural desire to keep up employment in Malta and may actually be harmful to it and discouraging to commercial firms interested in the industrial development of Malta.