asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what action he now proposes taking towards arranging a conference between the County and City Managers Association and the trade unions for the purpose of exploring the establishment of a joint industrial council for non-nursing personnel employed in hospitals controlled by local authorities within the State, having regard to the fact that the Parliamentary Secretary in a reply of 15th December, 1965 indicated that he would bring to his attention the fact that the Association repeatedly refused to meet the unions on this issue.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Non-Nursing Personnel.
52.
A joint industrial council is a voluntary body. It is a matter for the parties concerned to come together and, if they do so, to decide whether their particular situation can best be served by the establishment of a joint industrial council. I do not propose to intervene in this matter.
Surely the Minister is aware that the trade unions concerned have been sent from Billy to Jack by the members of the County and City Managers Association? Surely he is also aware that the Taoiseach has advocated get-togetherness in matters of labour relations and perhaps he might have a chat with the Minister for Transport and Power and have him, instead of lecturing the trade unions, lecture the County and City Managers Association in matters of this kind?
The establishment of these councils is a matter for agreement between the parties concerned and I do not think it would be appropriate for me to interfere.
Does this mean that the trade unions have no alternative but to come into head-on collisions with each manager?
The Labour Court is available.
The Court has refused because the Association will not come to a meeting.
A joint industrial council is normally a voluntary organisation——
Normally.
——a voluntary organisation formed by the agreement of the two parties.
They do not recognise any Minister.
The Court has already been asked and the Court asked the County and City Managers Association to come to a meeting and they have refused.
I shall pass the Deputy's representations on to the Minister for Local Government.