Negotiation and Consultation with Staff by National Ports Authority

Part of Clause 41 – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 29 April 1970.

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Photo of Mr Fred Mulley Mr Fred Mulley , Sheffield Park 12:00, 29 April 1970

I am grateful to my hon. Friends the Members for Newport (Mr. Roy Hughes), for Poplar (Mr. Mikardo) and for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Ellis) for the kind things they have had to say both in Committee and since about my attitude to this matter. An Amendment in similar terms in Committee was not suitable in form, and I said that I would discuss the matter with my hon. Friends with a view to suggesting lines on which a new Amendment could be put forward.

Since my hon. Friends were a little taken to task by the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton), I would explain that the enthusiasm has always been that of my hon. Friends and the caution has always been mine. This, like some other proposals which have emerged, is a marriage of enthusiasm and prudence and on the whole works fairly well.

The impressive unanimity at this closing stage of the Bill on the matter of industrial relations is important and significant. I agree with the hon. Member for Totnes (Mr. Mawby) that it is not a world-shattering event that we should wish to write this provision into the Bill. I am sure that, like all other good managements and trade unions, they will discuss facilities and perhaps even communication processes. We need to raise the sights of those concerned, particularly on the trade union side, so that they should not be arguing about the adequacy of facilities at meetings, but about the outcome of those meetings.

The leaders on both sides should discuss how these matters are to be worked out and conveyed to people on the shop floor, or in this case in the docks, so that they know what is going on. There is an obligation on management, which is not always carried out, to see that the lower levels of management know what is going on. We hope that these matters will be discussed between the two sides and not taken for granted.