HC Deb 09 March 1955 vol 538 cc45-6W
81. Mr. Alport

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to make a statement regarding the dock strike at Mombasa.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

On 3rd March practically all African dock labour at Mombasa, approximately 5,700 men, came out on strike. They were first joined by other African employees in Mombasa Town but most of the latter returned to work on 7th March. At the time of the strike the Joint Industrial Council for the Dock Industry was examining wage rates and the dock workers trade union leaders on the Council condemned the strike and were active in trying to bring about a return to work. As a result of negotiation the membership of the Joint Industrial Council was expanded and at a meeting of the newly constituted Council on 8th March, the representatives of the dock workers accepted conditions by the employers on the basis of an immediate return to work. The conditions included an interim increase of 50 cents per shift for all registered casual daily paid labour and a submission to arbitration to decide the final award. I have good hopes that the workers will be back at work today.