Trade Unions: Ballots

Lord Young of Norwood Green Excerpts

Thursday 31st March 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, I do not think that I have anything to add.

[Lord Young of Norwood Green]

My Lords, this is a complex issue that is probably worthy of a lengthier debate; in seven minutes, even without hesitation, deviation and repetition, we are going to give it only a cursory examination. I trust that the Minister will agree that the seminar at No. 10 this week on encouraging employee engagement, an approach started by the previous Government, is a path worth pursuing. Will he also agree that, during the recent recession, trade unions with enlightened employers agreed to things such as a shorter working week, temporary lay-offs and delayed pay increases to save jobs, using this period also to engage in additional training? Surely the Minister will agree that encouraging constructive dialogue between trade unions and enlightened employers is a much better way forward than trying to restrict trade union recognition.

[Lord De Mauley]

My Lords, I cannot find anything in what the noble Lord said with which to disagree. I will leave it at that.