Committee
Enterprise and Culture Committee, 13 Feb 2007
13 Feb 2007 · S2 · Enterprise and Culture Committee
Item of business
Transport and General Workers Union (Meeting)
For clarity, I should say that I am a member of the Transport and General Workers Union. I would never refuse to meet a trade union. Nothing would be lost by discussing the issues with the union, although I would have to make it clear that the committee can take no action about an individual company's commercial decisions. On that basis I would be more than happy to meet the TGWU.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
SNP
We move on to agenda item 2. I put this item on the agenda because of the general issues that have been raised in correspondence. However, I do not think tha...
Christine May:
Lab
For clarity, I should say that I am a member of the Transport and General Workers Union. I would never refuse to meet a trade union. Nothing would be lost by...
Susan Deacon:
Lab
I should also confess my membership of the TGWU—although "confess" might not be the right word.I have no difficulty with colleagues meeting the union. Howeve...
The Convener:
SNP
We are at the tail end of this session of Parliament and there will be only one full meeting of the committee after this one, so there is no time for the com...
Christine May:
Lab
I would also like to explore with the union—in the context of its role in the global trade union movement—the tension between environment and economy. The ca...
Mark Ballard:
Green
The classic tension between environment and economy is illustrated by a situation in which jobs and the environment are one side of the equation and commerci...
The Convener:
SNP
I will come back to that.
Mr Maxwell:
SNP
The issue is becoming less clear as we go on. I have no problem with the convener and deputy convener meeting people on behalf of the committee, if the commi...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I should say, for the avoidance of doubt, that I am not a member of the Transport and General Workers Union. I agree with Stewart Maxwell, who makes a fair p...
The Convener:
SNP
I will not go to the barricades over the status of the meeting, and I do not think that Christine May will either. I would be happy if the committee preferre...
Mr Stone:
LD
It might come as a surprise to some members, but I should perhaps remind the committee that I was, once upon a time, a member of the T&G. It is typical of us...
The Convener:
SNP
You are not in Equity now, are you?
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
They have standards at Equity, convener.
Mr Stone:
LD
I disagree with Stewart Maxwell and Murdo Fraser. The trade union branch took it upon itself to get in touch with us. It is an enterprise matter, because job...
Susan Deacon:
Lab
To build on what has already been said, I suggest that it is worth commissioning work on the issue, or at least setting the ball rolling, via the Scottish Pa...
The Convener:
SNP
I think that the idea of asking SPICe to prepare some research, which would be available to our successor committee, is sensible. Members indicated agreement.
The Convener:
SNP
I take it from members' nodding that we agree to ask SPICe to do that. That will keep them busy while the rest of us are campaigning. I should point out to S...