F.O.L. goal not change in act

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33579, 6 July 1974, Page 2

F.O.L. goal not change in act

(New Zealand Presi Association) AUCKLAND, July 5. The trade-union movement was unlikely to accept the introduction of penalties to the Industrial Relations Act as a solution to the unrest about injunctions, said the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr T. E. Skinner), today.

He was replying to a suggestion by the Minister of Labour (Mr Watt) that one way to overcome the problems caused by Supreme Court injunctions being used against unions was for such actions to be heard by the Industrial Court, the court having the power to enforce its decisions. Mr Skinner said the trade union movement would resist any legislation that abrogated its right to deal and bargain freely with employers. ‘•There should not be any penalties at all,” said Mr Skinner. "There will never be good industrial relations white one side can use penalties against the other. "If the right of employers to hire and fire and employ whoever they like was taken away we might consider it, but they want that right, and, in the same way, the rights of workers should be protected.”

Mr Skinner said F.O.L. suggestions would be given to Mr Watt as soon as possible. The subject of injunctions was bound to be discussed at a meeting of the federation’s national executive on Tuesday. This meeting would probably decide what form any representations would take.