CAB128-94_A1b — Page 60

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 60

MENTARY

1. The Cabinet were informed of the business to be taken in the House of Commons in the following week.

ONFIDEN

HOME AFF

Abolition or

the Dock Labour Scheme

Previous Reference CC(89) 23.2

2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EMPLOYMENT said that the Dock Work Bill had received Royal Assent on the previous Monday, ich was two weeks earlier than had originally been thought possible. The Bill had completed its

passage through ament, without amendment, in only three months and he to record his thanks to the Business Managers on this suxesful outcome. The result of the second ballot of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) dockworker members was likely to be announced on the following day and it was almost certain that there would be a majority for strike action. Strike action was likely to start almost immediately in the former Someports: this might well crumble quite quickly in some of ther ports, but it could be expected to be fairly prolonged in others, for example at Tilbury and Liverpool. The fact that of strike action had been delayed until after the Dock Labour see had been abolished meant that it would be taking place ag the background that dockworkers who took strike action could be treated like other employees in a similar situation and replace other workers and that there had been ample time for contgently arrangements to be made by traders and others against the ability of a strike in former Scheme ports. He would be cinntag briefing material to colleagues

later that day for use 1 the event of the ballot of TGWU

dockworker members producif Certain employers in the for

majority for strike action.

Scheme ports had already

declared some redundancies, though mostly of a voluntary nature.

THE PRIME MINISTER said that Business Managers in both Houses the passage of the Dock Work Bill

The Cabinet

1.

Cabinet congratulated the their success in securing weeks ahead of schedule.

Congratulated the Business Managers the successful passage of the Dock Work

both Houses on

Industrial Action in the Transport

and Other Sectors

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT said that or

previous

day there had been a one-day strike by members of the tional Union of Railwaymen (NUR) on British Rail (BR) and

stoppage by members of the NUR and the Amalgamated Societ

CONFIDENTIAL

1

Page 60

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 60Page 61 of 260'

CONFIDENTIAL