CO129-626-3 Labour Department- report to Labour Commissioner 1-3-1951 - 30-6-1952 — Page 92

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en "Industrial Court" as suggested in paragraph 267 had established itself.

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278.

XV.

WORKS COMMITTEES AND WHITLEY COUNCILS.

During the First World War, industrial disputes were fairly common in the United Kingdom and the Government decided that something should be done to avoid further disputes and stoppages of work. In October 1916 the Government set up & Committee on" the Relations Between Employers and Employed" under the chairmanship of Mr. J.H. Whitley, M.P. the then speaker of the House of Commons with the following terms of reference:

(1) to make and consider suggestions for securing

permanent improvement in the relations between employers and workmen, end

(2) to recommend means for securing that industrial conditions affecting the relations between employers and workmen shall be systematically

reviewed by those concerned with a view to improving conditions in the future.

The recommendations contained in the reports of this Committee were far reaching and have played an important part in the extension and formation of joint negotiating machinery and the development of statutory machinery for the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes.

279. One of the recommendations was the formation, in well organised industries, of Joint Industrial Councils, some times called Whitley Councils. The Committee recommended "the establishment for each industry of an organisation representa- tive of employers and workpeople to have as its object the regular consideration of matters affecting the progress and well being of the trade or industry from the point of view of those engaged in it so far as this is consistent with the general interests of the community" and further stated, a permanent improvement in the relations between employers and employed must be founded upon something other than a cash basis. What is wanted is that the workpeople should have a greater op;ortunity of participating in the discussion about, and adjustment of those parts of industry by which they are most affected

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280. The recommendations of the Whitley Committee were applied to Government establishments in 1920.. The various Joint Councils present considerable variety in structure, in the degree of authority and in the nature and extent of their activity but they are all based on the same general principles which remain unchanged up to the present time.

281. Details regarding the constitution and operation or the verious Joint Councils re given in Section III of the

Industrial Relations handbook" issued by the Ministry or Labour and National Service.

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