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Ussr (Trade Unions)

Volume 951: debated on Tuesday 6 June 1978

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4.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further discussion he has had with the International Labour Organisation since his reply to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South on 4th April—Official Report, c. 226—about the recognition by the International Labour Organisation of the Association of Free Trade Union Workers in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The ILO has confirmed that its established procedures are available for the examination of allegations of infringement of the right of workers to establish and join trade unions as expressly provided for in the Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 87) which has been ratified by the USSR. An investigation under these procedures has now been initiated.

Does that carry us much further forward compared with the position two months ago when the Minister answered a Question on this subject? Since this matter is becoming more urgent because of the evidence which has come in of increasing harassment of the members of the association, is it not possible either for the TUC or for the Government to make sure that the matter is put on the agenda of the ILO meeting which is to take place this month?

First of all, there is considerable progress in this matter; this is a positive step forward which has been taken. It would be wrong for the United Kingdom Government as a member of the ILO to try in any way to short circuit the procedures of the ILO and to prejudge the issue. In any part we play, particularly within the governing body, the United Kingdom representatives will be aware of the views expressed in this House and of the Government's total opposition to the suppression of human rights wherever that occurs, and will especially be aware of our fundamental rejection of the misuse of psychiatric treatment or other forms of punishment in the ways alleged in this case.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the National Union of Railwaymen, the National Union of Mineworkers, NALGO, the AUEW and other unions have raised this question and are very concerned about it? Is he also aware that this matter is on the agenda of the Labour Party national executive, that the TUC general council has written to the Soviet trade unions about it and that, whatever the reply is, we are deeply concerned about this whole question? But is my hon. Friend also aware that some Conservative Members are concerned to attack what happens in the Soviet Union but do not defend the rights of Chilean workers, Iranian workers or others in different parts of the world who are equally concerned with trade union rights in their countries?

Yes, I am well aware of the facts that my hon. Friend mentioned at the start of his question. Also, the TUC is a leading affiliate of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, which lodged a formal complaint with the ILO about this matter. I very much agree with the latter part of my hon. Friend's question.