§ Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his Department takes any steps to publish his policy on trades union membership; and whether he considers there are advantages in membership which should be drawn to the attention of workers.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe Government support the right of employees to be members of trade unions and to participate in trade union activities. Our recently published proposals for industrial relations legislation would reinforce the current statutory protection of these rights by substantially increasing the amounts of compensation payable to employees dismissed because of their trade union membership or activities. The existing rights in these respects are clearly set out in my Department's published leaflets on employment legislation. Within the context of these rights the Government believe that it should be for individual employees to decide themselves on the advantages or otherwise of trade union membership.