§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will amend schedule 1, paragraph 6(5) to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 as amended by section 1(e) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Amendment) Act 1976, relating to the dismissal of a worker who refuses to join a union, to make the provisions of both Acts conform to article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerIn the Government's view the provisions specified in the 337W question already conform to article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate the countries within the European Community which extensively operate a closed shop and those which do not.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThere are, as far as the Government are aware, no figures available on the total number of employees covered by closed shops—however defined—in any country within the European Community.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to provide by statute for compensation to be payable to a worker who has been dismissed from his employment for failing or refusing to join a trade union where the works are covered by a closed shop agreement.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerProvision is currently made in the legislation for compensation to be paid in respect of any employee who genuinely objects on grounds of religious belief to being a member of any trade union whatsoever.
§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees have been dismissed for refusing to join a trade union since the introduction of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 in industry and by public or local government authorities, respectively.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe information is not available. Employers are under no obligation to inform the Government when or why they dismiss or propose to dismiss individual employees.
§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many closed shop agreements have been introduced since the inception of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 in nationalised industries or by public and local government authorities, respectively.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerInformation about closed shop agreements is not available. The parties to collective agreements of any kind are under no obligation to inform the Government when such agreements are made.
338W
§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees subject to closed shop agreements have joined trade unions since the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 was introduced; and what proportion of the total work force they constitute in industry and in public or local government authorities, respectively.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe information is not available. Neither employers nor trade unions are under any obligation to give the Government details of those who become members.