asked the Minister for Labour the reason he has not taken an initiative to settle the industrial dispute involving 183 technicians in the employment of a company (details supplied).

16.

asked the Minister for Labour the efforts he has made to terminate the strike by 183 telephone technicians field staff employed by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.

This dispute has been the subject of negotiations between the union and management at local level and at the Labour Court under the chairmanship of an industrial relations officer. These talks are continuing and I hope they will lead to a resolution of the dispute.

How long has this dispute been in progress and when did the Labour Court first become involved? Have proposals emerged from that involvement?

The dispute in question is an official strike involving some 170 members of the MPGWU. The strike commenced on 5 August 1983. Since then there have been six conciliation conferences, and discussions are going on today.

After a strike of three months is the reason the talks are on today the question put down by my colleague?

The Deputy would be very rash to believe that.

The Deputy is realistic.

There have been protracted discussions at local level between management and the union. In addition, the conciliation service of the Labour Court has at all stages been available and it has been availed of on six occasions when conciliation conferences took place. The present position is that talks continue at local level and the Labour Court continues to keep in touch with the progress of the dispute and the court is available to assist the parties as the opportunity arises. Proposals which emerged at the last meeting of the parties were considered by management who responded by letter on Wednesday, 19 October, and further discussions go on at this moment.

Is the Minister of State aware that this dispute arises from a company request to union members to resign from their union, a William Martin Murphy type tactic? Also, is the Minister of State aware that considerable contracts from Government Departments are entered into with this company? Has he considered using the influence of the Government to terminate this dispute and to allow employees the right to join or not to join trade unions?

The dispute is over the transfer of approximately 23 technicians, members of the MPGWU, to a new company. I do not think it proper for me to go into the merits of the dispute, given the sensitivity that I have indicated to Deputy Fitzgerald, at this time.

Is the Minister aware of whether or not new Government contracts were placed with that company since 5 August, in other words during the period of the strike?

I do not have that information.

17.