A.S.S.E.T. TO PROPOSE A LABOUR CODE from a special correspondent
The Executive of the Association of Supervisory Staffs Executives and Technicians is to ask its annual conference to pass an emergency resolution on a Labour Code, The resolution calls attention to the Rookes v. Barnard judgment and urges immediate legislation to "restore the protection of Sections 1 and 3 of the Trade Disputes Act, 1906." It also calls for the eventual introduction of a Labour Code “which would provide affirmative rights for trade unions to be recognised and to bargain collectively." The Executive sees the need and the opportunity for gathering the whole range of present industrial legislation - plus some new ones - into one comprehensive Code.
Clive Jenkins, general secretary of the union, explains that from 20 to 30 different aspects of management-employee relationships would be brought into the code. These would include statutory recognition of unions which had a majority membership within a plant, rules on pensions, and wage-related unemployment benefits. He says that the unions will have to change some of their ways too: the practice of asking for 50% more in pay .Yises than are actually expected is outdated; the 'ritualistic' early stages of Many negotiating procedures should be dropped.
As a precantiénary measure, the annual conference will be asked to prepare the 1965 conference to indemnify officials of the union who may be liable for damages as a result of actions carried out for the union.