§ Mr. Erringtonasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that there is a dispute between the union and employers in the boilermaking industry on Merseyside which is slowing up work on important Government contracts; whether he can give the full facts thereof; and whether he proposes to intervene in this dispute?
§ Mr. E. BrownAn embargo on overtime and the working of night shifts by members of the Boilermakers' Society has been in operation for a considerable time on ship repairing work in the Mersey district. In December, 1937, a new agreement was made with the Confederation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trade 2119W Unions giving certain improvements in working conditions and this agreement has since been in general operation in this district. As, however, that part of the confederation's claim relating to a 40-hour week was rejected, the local branch of the Boilermakers' Society did not accept the agreement and since that time it has refused to allow its members to work on overtime or night shift. Repeated attempts have been made by discussions within the industry to secure the operation of the agreed working conditions by the members of the Boilermakers' Society, but so far without success. While of course I am always glad to give any assistance in my power to assist in reaching a settlement of differences, I regret that on the information before me there appears to be no useful purpose to be served by my intervention in the present case.