Second thoughts over dock Bill
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Drivers fear for their jobs
EMPLOYMENT SECRETARY Mr Michael Foot has , been "forced to think again" on his Bill to widen the scope of the National Dock Labour Scheme to cover cargo handling depots within five miles of seaports.
The Bill, which was to have had a Second Reading on Monday, December 15, has now been withdrawn until the New Year.
Ministers argue that the delay is the result of the pressure on Parliamentary time and that the Bill will be reintroduced in January in its original form. But unions, like the NUR, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association and some sections of the TGWU who object to the Bill, are making no secret of the fact that they want drastic amendments.
Lorry drivers and other workers fear that their jobs may be taken over by dockers and that bitter inter-union disputes will result.
The NUR and the TSSA have declared that all Labour MPs sponsored by them will be urged to vote against the Bill if it is not amended. And that is a threat the Government cannot afford to ignore.
At least 21 points of objection have been raised by these unions.
Under the Bill, cargo-handling zones will be established in which registered dockers only will be entitled to work.
All existing workers in these zones will be placed on a temporary register, but the railway unions want firm assurances that they will continue to be allowed to negotiate for their own members.
Under the present Dock Labour Scheme registered dockers are entitled to a guaranteed wage whether there is work for them or not.
Employers' organisations fear that the extension of the scheme to all warehousing, cold storage and container bases will involve a heavy increase in costs.
If the Bill is introduced in its present form next month there will be a considerable gap between the Second Reading debate and the start of the committee stage to enable amendments to be adjusted and agreed by the objecting unions. That could put the legislation back several months.
While left-wing Labour MPs are disappointed at the delay, moderate MPs are expressing relief that there will now be time for second thoughts.
Dr Dickson Mabon, chairman of the Manifesto Group of Labour MPs, said there were serious objections. "If the Government want to proceed with the Bill they had better have discussions in depth not only with the unions but also with various sections of the Labour party," he said.