AVOIDANCE OF STRIKES

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27709, 13 July 1955, Page 13

AVOIDANCE OF STRIKES

Warning By British Minister LONDON, July 11. A warning was given by Mr Arnold Watkinson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, that if Britain is to prevent a drastic fall in the standard of living, a round of price increases, and a sharp bout of unemployment, then strikes must be avoided. In a week-end speech, he said that no-one tiad gained anything by the recent strikes which could not have been gained by peaceful means. There could be no question of attempting to deprive the workers of the right to strike, but the use of the strike weapon was justifiable only when all other means of righting a wrong had failed. The causes which led to a major industrial dispute could and should be avoided by good management practice. The unions, too, had a responsibility in working with management to see that problems were settled round the table. The right way to avoid strikes was to have the kind of twentieth-century human relations that made the strike weapon obsolete. Each side should disclose frankly to the other its problems. be they those of production, or profits, or pay. Particularly in difficult inter-union problems the Trades Union Congress shopld be given an opportunity to mediate. It was certainly the desire of the Government that it should continue to play this most valuable part in industrial relations. “If all else fails,” he added, “then bring your cases to the Ministry of Labour before you commit yourself to the declaration of frar that a strike notice involves.”