§ 51. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the causes of the recent strikes in the coffee, tea and sisal-growing areas of Kenya; and what action is being taken by the Kenya Government to improve labour conditions and industrial relations.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe reasons given by the strikers have differed, and have often been confused and obscure. But the underlying cause seems to be the difficulties which newly formed trade unions have encountered in achieving effective discipline in a widely scattered industry during a period of some political excitement. Most of the strikes occurred without previous negotiation with employers, but, thanks mainly to the efforts of the Kenya Ministry of Labour, the two sides of the coffee industry are now in direct negotiation and I am glad to say that the strikes have almost all ended. Negotiations in the tea industry are well advanced and are expected to begin shortly in sisal.