§ 53. Mrs. Castleasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the newspaper dispute of 18th September; and what part was 415W played in its solution by the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithAlthough the stoppage on 19th September was precipitated by union members holding meetings in working hours, this was in fact a pay dispute. The unions were unable to agree a common approach acceptable to their members. With the help of the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, a common approach was eventually agreed by five of the six unions, and the dispute was settled on 22nd September.
None of the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act was in force at the time.