To rationalise and reform the industry by grouping companies, establishing Group Boards and devolving powers as appropriate’ to them; Subject to the above, to retain company and brand names where all the workers desire this; otherwise to introduce new names based on local associations; To provide for joint conciliation machinery between management and Trade Unions at national, group and plant level; To provide on enterprise boards and at lower levels of management for a significant element of representation of the workers without prejudice to the negotiating rights of their trade union representatives; To make the appointment of chairman (or managing director) of Enterprise Boards and of lower management subject to the agreement of representative Workers’ Councils and for five years only with the possibility of further terms subject to re-appointment. To provide for a system of shop, mill or office Committees elected by secret ballot, with all members eligible to vote and stand as candidates. Nominations and elections to be organised by Trade Unions. All workers in nationalised Steel must be members of Unions whether on staff or weekly wage terms of contract. Shop managers’ appointment and the deployment of labour, promotion, hiring and firing and safety, welfare and disci-
plinary matters to be subject to
ratification by these committees.
Where necessary Department Com-
mittees elected from Shop Com-
mittees should be provided for
with appropriate higher powers to
the Shop Committees and with
special responsibility also for
training and education.
One half of the Workers’ Council
to be elected through the Shop and
Department Committees, the other
half through Trade Union
branches in~ proportion to the
strength of each Union in the
Enterprise. The Workers’ Council
to be responsible for electing rep-
resentatives to the Enterprise
Board, for ratification of the
Chairman’s appointment and for
receiving reports on all enterprise
policies, with power to ask for
detailed costings of all depart-
ments.