TRADE PRACTICES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 4 February 1942, Page 5

TRADE PRACTICES

RESTORATION OF PRE-WAR BILL MINISTER EXPLAINS PURPOSE DIFFERENT BASIS OI APPROACH Rugby, Feb.. 3. In moving the second reading in the House of Commons of tne restoration of the pre-war Trade Practices’ Bill, the Minister of Labour, Mr E. Bevan explained that its purpose was in accordance with the Government’s pledges to restore after the war trade practices departed from during the war. The’ basis upon which the problem of the dilution of labour was approached during this war was far different from that of last war. It was approached by both sides with a determination to contribute whole-heartedly and to co-operate with the State in whatever steps might be necessary to secure the protection of the country and ultimately Allied victory.

Machinery had been established which would enable industry to be transferred from a war-time to a peacetime basis with great facility and speed. Perhaps what was most remarkable was that this had been done with scarcely a single dispute on the question of dilution in any works in the country. Members would appreciate the difficult and complicated problems arising in workshops and the inherent conservatism of our people on both sides, especially in view of the fact that nearly every trade practice in view of the fact that nearly every trade practice in this country which had been devised to protect workmen, had been the result of years of effort and might be described as real property right as far as working classes were concerned. TIME LOST BY DISPUTES VERY SLIGHT Mr Bevin continued that having re- j gard to the site of the labour force in ! this country, the change in its distri- , bution and composition, the necessity t for rapid adjustment in its character and methods of production, and in many cases a complete change in piecework rates due to those changes, it was remarkable that the amount of time lost through disputes represented only one fifteenth of a day per year for each worker employed since war broke out. The changes of a voluntary character that had been made in industry, were

fortified by the Government’s pledge. There had been more disputes in this country during his. memory arising from employers who did not play the game than from any other cause, and it was necessary to take steps to see that none took advantage after the war of those who had entered into honourable and voluntary bargains. Another essential reason for carrying out the pledge was that although the transition from peace to war was very difficult, every step had to be taken to minimise the chances of dispute when that moment arrived. OBLIGATIONS ON EMPLOYERS The Bill was not to be concerned , with wages, but with rules, practices or | customs with respect to classes who j were to be or not to be employed, and 1 the conditions of employment and hours of working. The proposal did : not attempt to establish a statutory 1 code for trade practices. It placed an j obligation on employers to restore trade j practices departed from during the war, and to maintain the restored prac- \ tices for eighteen months. This applied j equally to the undertakings begun during the war. There was a further safeguard—that only unions whose custom it was before the war to maintain the practice in j question, should enter into an agreement with employers. An employer j who had not discharged his obligation j might be reported to the Ministry by an employers’ organisation or trade union. If a case could not be disposed of by agreement it must be decided by arbitration and if after the arbitration award or decision it were not carried out, the employer was liable to penalties.—B.O.W.