CONFIDENTIAL
Conciliation/Negotiation
-
- 4
15.
The
pamphlet in
Labour
Department has prepared a draft Chinese and English which aims to advise public and private sector managers on the handling of major labour troubles.
16.
This pamphlet could be issued as required during a period of widespread labour unrest. The advice on
how to resolve strikes and sit-ins has been shown to be successful on occasions in the past.
A
17. Thus, for
walk-outs,
important
considerable degree of tact is required. instance, the avoidance of excuses for sit-ins, or other forms of protest is in forestalling politically-motivated
industrial action.
18.
The possible consequences of action such as the removal of inflammatory posters should also be carefully considered before being implemented.
19.
In a dangerous situation, or if a curfew is in force, it may be necessary for the Commissioner for Labour to ask the Commissioner of Police for assistance in contacting leading members of factions.
Security
20.
Intimidation is an
politically-motivated
persuading reluctant workers
industrial
effective method of to participate in action. It may take
the form of merely threatening a worker that his name will be put on a black list, but it may involve cruder physical methods. It is hard to detect, and very hard to prove.
21.
The most effective single counter to it is a strong Police presence to deter those whose objective is intimidation, and to reassure workers who wish to work but may be afraid.
Other methods can include :
22.
(a)
operating on
a reduced staff of
absolutely trustworthy workers;
CONFIDENTIAL