§ 27. Mr. David Reedasked the Secretary of State for Employment why it took his Department almost a month to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sedgefield concerning the strike at the General Electric Company-Associated Electrical Industries, Newton Aycliffe; and what steps were taken by his Department during that time to conciliate in the dispute.
§ Mr. BryanThe company has reached agreement on a pay claim with three unions but members of a fourth union have not accepted the company's terms and have been on strike since January. On receiving the hon. Member's letter my Department discussed the dispute with representatives of the company and the workpeople but the employer did not wish the Department to intervene. My officers have again discussed the dispute with the parties but there is still no basis for joint talks under the Department's chairmanship.