Joint Talks Welcomed
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WILDCAT strikes in the motor industry and industrial relations generally are to be investigated by a joint committee of top motor manufacturers and union leaders, The inquiry received its go-ahead signal when many of the top manufacturers met the Minister of Labour, Mr. John Hare, at the Ministry on Tuesday, writes our Industrial Correspondent.
For nearly two hours they discussed with him the scope and form the inquiry should take. Then they issued a statement that they welcomed the Minister's proposal for joint talks and were ready to take part in them.
Leaders of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, who met Mr. Hare last month, have already agreed to take past in the inquiry. Now the first meeting of leaders of the motor industry and of the executives of the Confederation has been arranged to take place under the Minister's chairmanship on February 20.
The idea of an inquiry into industrial relations in the industry was first put forward by Mr. Hare last November. Although with the recession in the industry strikes are now less frequent and no longer headline news, the motor industry was last year probably one of the worst sections to be hit by unofficial stoppages.
Mr. Hare felt that it might be a good thing for the two sides of the industry to take a good look at the causes. The employers responded at once. But the unions were at first reluctant to take part in an inquiry which tended to put them in the dock without, at the same time, investigating the faults of management which they claimed were often the cause of disputes.