45
In the remaining 4 cases (only one involving a trade union)
"the Labour Department gave guidance and advice to the
parties", which presumably contributed to the settlement
achieved.
61.69
One gets an even more definite picture of the
Labour Department as, in effect (and faute de mieux), a more
decisive protector of employee interests than are the unions
from the record of lesser disputes and grievances; in these,
it appears normal for workers to approach, singly or in
groups, the Department (or certain associated agencies) for
a remedy. Thus in the last three annual Department Reports,
the Section dealing with "Labour Disputes" (i.e. generally,
disputes over substantive terms of employment other than
general wage-claims) runs as follows:
Settled through
the Labour Department
Settled by the Legal Aid Dept. or
Labour
Triomal
Settled by direct
negotiation or lapsed
Total Reported
1973/4
86
70
4
12
1974/5
121
89
6
26
1975*
124*
86
20
18
The overwhelming majority of such disputes were thus settled
with the assistance of the Labour Department, with a proportion
being resolved by other official agencies.
In his last Report, the Labour Commissioner changed the dating
from financial to calendar years.
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