Strike Drivers Threatened With Govt Action

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32359, 27 July 1970, Page 1

Strike Drivers Threatened With Govt Action

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 26. The Minister of Labour (Mr Marshall) today threatened striking members of the Northern District Drivers’ Union with Government action if they failed to return to work immediately.

In a telegram to the union secretary (Mr G. H. Andersen) Mr Marshall, who is in Rotorua for the National Party conference, said:

“I am concerned at the continuing and persistent resort to illegal strike action which various sections of the Northern District Drivers’ Union, under your guidance, have adopted to endeavour to en-

force by direct action claims which should be negotiated in terms of the law. “1 require you to issue instructions forthwith for the members of your union who are on strike to return to work, failing which I will be forced to take further action.” Details of the telegram were issued from the Minister’s Wellington office late this afternoon.

Mr Marshall strongly attacked the union iff a speech to

the National Party conference, yesterday and claimed the] union was Communist led. ! “A few months ago,” he’ told delegates, “a warning of! de-registration was necessary] to quell an intransigent] branch of the Freezing Wor- 1 kers’ Union. “Last week, firm and positive action solved the shipping dispute. “It now appears that another situation is building up where firm action is called for. I refer to the actions of the Communist-led Northern Drivers' Unibn. “This union has, over recent months, initiated a continuing series of strikes. It bas deliberately resorted to direct action when its immediate demands have not been immediately met. “These tactics do not have the support of the trade union movement. If they are allowed to succeed they would be a victory for militant lawbreakers and a defeat for responsible trade union activity.” He said employers have given in to these tactics too often.

“Now we have a group of employers who have said ‘this far and no further’,” Mr Marshall said. “They have said ‘No’ in the face of strike action. They have asked for Government] support in their stand. I gave them that support. “I hope this conference will] do the same.” Secretary Replies i In Auckland Mr Andersen; said today that by making! bogymen out of the union and ] its secretary Mr Marshall was, trying to strengthen his posi-: tion in his own party and to! justify the enactment of further anti-union legislation.

He said he was not a member of the Communist Party. “1 am a member of the New Zealand Socialist Unity Party, but in its relation to this discussion about the union it is not an important

j issue,” he said. “The important issue here is that the union has got a democratically decided policy.” “I exercise the right ]to hold the political opinions ] I desire.” he said. ] “1 have never disguised , that fact and there is no evidence to indicate that I have used my position in tile union to further the aims of that particular organisation.”