§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement about the dispute between the Camden and Islington area health authority and members of unions not affiliated to the Trades Union Congress.
§ Mr. DeakinsOn 22nd May and 17th July, the chairman of the Camden and Islington AHA(T) met the area shop stewards committee which comprises representatives of TUC-affiliated unions. On both occasions, representatives of the Royal College of Nursing attempted to join the meeting, but the members of the area shop stewards committee refused to sit down with them. Representatives of those recognised staff organisations which are not affiliated to the TUC have been offered separate meetings with the chairman, which they have refused.
In Camden and Islington AHA(T), as in the NHS generally, management tries to consult representatives of all recognised staff organisations on matters which affect the interests of staff. I am informed that in an attempt to improve the situation a revised draft constitution for a joint staff consultative committee has been put by the AHA(T) to the staff side for its consideration in the hope that new agreed consultative machinery can be introduced.