CAB128-94_A1b — Page 38

CONFIDENTIAL

ONFIDENTI

Abolition of the Dock

Labour Scheme

Previous Reference CC(89) 21.2

Page 38

review of computerisation in the Passport Department, and to take specific steps to clear the present backlog of passport applications. This proposed increase compared with the union's demand for an additional 381 posts. The additional 203 posts would be found by converting an equivalent number of existing temporary posts. All the new posts would be subject to further scrutiny and examination in the full staffing review to be undertaken later that year. He believed that there was a good ospect that the union would recommend its members to accept package. In drawing up the proposals, he had been conscious he importance of bringing the current action to a swift end there was otherwise a real risk that the service to the pic would deteriorate even further. In the longer-term, the anser to the Passport Department's difficulties lay in the computerisation of passport issuing and in the improvement of the current management structure. A prompt settlement of the present diente would provide the necessary breathing space to tackle these issues. The management structure of the Department would be an under the Next Steps procedure: that procedure laid down that the question of privatisation should be examined before any contation was given to the creation of an agency, although there real difficulties about privatisation in this case in vthe need to ensure that passports, which

Crown

would be acceptable to overseas

were

Governments.

The Cabinet -

2.

CONFIDENTIA

Took note.

NT

said that the Dock Work age in the House of Lords

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EMPLA Bill had completed its Committed unamended: Report Stage was arrange for 28 June. The Bill was on course to achieve Royal Assent by 3 July. The Judicial Committee of the House of Lords had that week allowed an appeal by the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) against the Court of Appeal's grant of an injunction the three major port employers preventing the TGWU from cal

strike of its members in Dock Labour Scheme ports. The TWUould, however, have to ballot its members again under Employment Act 1980 to obtain a fresh mandate action. It was expected to announce a fresh barter that day, the results of which would probably be available around 5 July, two days after the Dock Work Bill was expected Royal Assent. The union's biennial conference would take place the following week and there would no doubt be a good de of rhetoric surrounding the occasion. industrial action conducted in some ports had now cease although any official action which might be called was likel

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4

CONFIDENTIAL

But the

terms of the industrial

eceive

ive

NFIDENTIAL

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