Wilson heading for clash with unions

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33527, 7 May 1974, Page 17

Wilson heading for clash with unions

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, May 6.

The “special understanding” between Britain’s Prime Minister (Mr Wilson) and the trade unions comes in for its sharpest test yet this week.

Transport workers, engineering workers and local government officers — all members of the country’s largest unions — all pose embarrassing challenges. Leaders of the 1.3 millionstrong Engineering Union meet on Tuesday to consider strike action in the face of the order of the Industrial Relations Court to seize almost its entire funds. The decision to seize funds follows an order to pay £47,000 compensation to an engineering company after the union refused to call off a strike at the firm. The union is also guilty of contempt of court for not paying the compensation. Members of the 1.6 mil-lion-strong Transport Workers’ Union, employed by British Airway: as cabin staff, threaten to halt all long-distance services from Tuesday. The proposed strike is over duty hours, overseas allowances and extra pay for unsocial hours. The two sides in the dispute were called to the Department of Employment on Friday foi a meeting with Government ministers, but the talks, called at almost unprecedented speed, collapsed after five-and-a-half hours. The 500,00 0-strong National and Local Government Officers’ Association has also decided to continue with its campaign of select-

ive strikes and overtime ban in support of a £4OO a year increase in the London working allowance.