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W(B)L 51-7406
Draft letter
D.R.Holmes Esq., CMG, CBE, MC, ED, MA,
Acting Colonial Secretary
Hong Kong.
From
Mr. Laird.
As you will know, the Trade Union Registration (Amendment) Bill 1970 has given rise to a certain
amount of criticism here and it has been the subject
of several letters to Ministers from Members of xxX
Parliament and of a Question in the House.
to
The British TUC have also intervened. They
told George Foggon that, in view of the anxety
expressed by General Council members about the legislation (England and Rear have ceratinly done their best to rally support for their views), it
was their intention to ask the Secretary of State
receive a delegation. Foggon argued, however, that as
the Bill was already on the agenda of the Overseas
Labour Consultative Committeee where Lord Lothian
would be in the chair, there seemed to be no strong
case for such a delegation.
The Overseas Labour Consultative Committee
comprises representatives from the Confederation
of British Industry and from the Trades Union
Congress as well as officials from the various
Ministries and meets at irregular intervals when
there are matters of substance to discuss.
The TUC accepted George Foggon's argument
and at the meeting the TUC representatives present
seemed reasonably satisfied with the explanations
given about the major points they raised which
concerned picketing, restrictions on holding office,
"temporary trade unions" A number of points of
detail were also raised, however, including at least
one point outside the scope of the amending Bill,
i.e. fines on unions.
It was suggested that these various points
should be discussed between officials of the TUC and
FCO and this was agreed. We hope to arrange the
meeting shortly
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.