STRIKE LAWS

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31984, 10 May 1969, Page 16

STRIKE LAWS

Major Ally To Unions fIV.Z.P.A.-S*uter—Copi/riphpy

LONDON, May 8.

Pressure mounted on the Labour Government tpday to pull back from a collision with trade unions over laws prohibiting strikes.

In t growing crisis, political observers say that Mr Harold Wilsoq’s leadership, and his Government’s future could be at stake.

The Government is committed to drastic reforms of the trade union movement, the traditional power baye of British socialist*. - Vnleps. are hostile to the proposals, especially planned penalties for. .wild-cat strikes. ; Last night the union? gained « the Parliamentary Labour Party, who in effect warned Mr Wihon .that ’ the, vital Trade "Union Bill would hot go through Parliaitnent unless the penal, provisions ~, were dropped; Mr Houghton appealed for an agreed solution, declaring: “Our unity and our political purpose matters more to the country than the marginal damage of unconstitutional strikes.”

The Prime Minister (Mr Wilson) arranged tn call a meeting of Ministers today to discuss what concessions could be made, in the face of a growing all-round revolt in the Labour Party.