UNIONS BEHIND TIMES

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30541, 9 September 1964, Page 17

UNIONS BEHIND TIMES

“The Press” Special Service LONDON, Sept. 8. Attacking the trade union [ set-up in Britain as “crazy,” [Sir John George, chairman of [the Scottish Unionist Party, told members of the Scottish Unionist Trade Union Advisory Committee in Glasgow that he wondered if trade unionists realised they were living in the second half of the 20th century and were aware of the clamant need for change. Sir John George said he had been a pit boy at 14 and realised that in his time there was a need to redress the open persecution of workers, but the trade unions today

were still shooting at targets of years ago, when they should be modernising. The Conservatives admitted that they could not govern successfully and achieve the targets they had in mind without the willing co-operation of the unions. They should be prepared to go to the utmost to attain this. “We are conscious that we are living in a bitterly competitive world. The practices of 20 years ago are no longer relevant.” he said. However. he doubted whether the unions realised the role they had to play in modern industry. When people looked at this i

“sprawly; untidy organisa tion,” with its inter-union fights and squabbles, they became uneasy about the role of the unions, he said. The unions had a lack of confidence in their own ability to face up to what was expected of them in modern times. People were becoming sick of unofficial strikes and they were becoming angry at the open • arrogance of many trade union leaders, Sir John George said. Sir John. George is a former Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power. He is 63, and managing director of a collieries firm.