F.O.L. call for free bargaining

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33776, 24 February 1975, Page 2

F.O.L. call for free bargaining

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND.

February 23

The Federation of Labour would like to see the Government set the scene now for a return to free wage bar-1 gaining.

Then, it says, the Government, the F.O.L. and the Employers’ Federation could sit down and agree to some form. of transitional period between ! the present controls and com-; plete freedom. The F.O.L.'s president (Mr : T. E. Skinner) has some ideas; on how the transition could occur, and says he will I put these to the Government. •TREND-SETTER' He has no set proposal vet. but thinks that a major! agreement could be nego-. tiated as a trend-setter or a pilot for subsequent negotiations. “But first, the Government must reduce unemployment. It should stimulate the building industry and manufacturing. Then, the scene is set for loosening the wage controls.” he says. He also sees a need for tax relief for those on lower incomes: “It is no use putting more money in workers’ pockets if, because of income tax, the extra is virtually valueless.” The Government and the two federations will soon discuss what is to follow the Stabilisation Regulations in July. These talks will take place when the Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) returns from overseas next month. EMPLOYMENT The Minister of Labour (Mr Faulkner) said that tax relief would no doubt be considered at that time by the Minister of Finance (Mr Tizard). Mr Faulkner said the Goveminent was working on unemployment, and the latest figures showed signficant declines in registered unemployment in “trouble” areas.’ “But the true situation is reflected in the number of un. employment benefits—for instance, there were several hundred registered unemployed in Auckland (in the latest figures), but only 99 had qualified for benefits,” he said.