§ 102 and 103. Mr. Piratinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether he is aware that 1,500 Arab petroleum workers in Haifa are conducting a stay-in strike for wage increases and a supply of overalls; that the police are being used to hinder the strikers' organisation; and if he will take immediate steps to prevent this anti-working class use of the police force in Palestine;
(2) whether he is aware that the management of the Iraq Petroleum Company in Haifa are refusing to negotiate with 1,500 workers on strike, as the company does not recognise the trade union; 84W that no action has been taken for three years on the draft trade union ordinance; and if he will now see to it that immediate action is taken to give the trade union full recognition and rights.
Mr. Creech JonesOne thousand two hundred Arab workers were on strike in Haifa but have now returned to work. The strikers at first refused to leave the premises of the Iraq Petroleum Company and the management sent for the police for protective purposes; the police were not used against the strikers. The management does, in fact, recognise the union and has a written agreement with them. The High Commissioner informs me that he intends to publish a Trades Union and Trades Dispute Bill in the near future