ASSOCIATION OF SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL STAFFS
JOINT GENERAL SECRETARIES
John Dutton
Clive Jenkins
Head Office: 15 Half Moon Street, London W.1. WIY 81Q
Telephone 01-499 4761
2ESE
RMCC/MM
Mr. G. Foggon,
Overseas Labour Adviser,
Foreign and Commonwealth, Office,
LONDON, S.W.1.
A.
25th September,
Dear Mr. Foggon,
ASTMS and Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co.
I have been in telephone contact with your Office over the last few days on the above matter. Unfortunately, you were not available and I ultimately was able to speak to Mr. Laird of the Hong Kong Department.
Relationships between ASTMS and the Company are deteriorating rapidly. Indeed, we have now been informed that the Company has dismissed the ASTMS Branch Secretary, Mr. Becker. In the absence of my General Secretary, I undertook to travel to Hong Kong this week to seek an interview with the Company but, because of the regulations concerning innoculations, have been unable to do so. Mr. Becker will be returning to London next week and I have arranged to interview him here.
I do wish to draw to your attention the very serious situation which is developing. It seems to me that a National Officer of ASTMS will require to go to Hong Kong to meet the Company very soon so as to attempt to avert a serious dispute, which is likely to involve ASTMS members employed by every airline using the services of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company, and possibly colleagues in the International Association of Machinists who work for American airlines using the facilities at Hong Kong.
We would be pleased to have your assistance in arranging meetings with the Company.
Yours sincerely,
R. Zi haben.
R. McCUSKER
Assistant General Secretary
Administrative Centre: Sutton House, 2-4 Homerton High Street, London, E.9. Telephone 01-985 4792