Mr Knox: Prices used as threat

Press, 15 July 1976, Page 2

Mr Knox: Prices used as threat

PA Whangarei The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) had made it quite clear that he would not control prices, the secretary of the Federation of Labour (Mr W. J. Knox) told about 450 men and women at a stop-work meeting in the Whangarei Town Hall yesterday.

Mr Knox said that Mr Muldoon was using price increases as a threat to try to stop unions making approaches about their wages. The stop-work meeting was called by the Whangarei Trades Council in protest against the Government’s wage restraints. Mr Knox said it was the first stop-work meeting of its kind in the Whangarei district. “You must be congratulated on taking a positive stand like this in line with F.O.L. policy. We all know we are here under circumstances never seen before, with the attacks being made on trade unions by the Government. “Not all workers are fully aware of what these attacks mean,” he said. One effect was to restrict the right of the trade union movement to bargain directly with employers. The F.O.L. ! was quite clear about this right. “But we can see that we have still got wage restriction policies. Prices are going up and up, uncontrolled. “The Prime Minister has

■(made it quite clear he wiHi ,(not control prices—in fact) (he has used them as ai l i threat.” ■ Mr Knox said that to say) ;'wages were ahead of costs I (was not the truth. The latest) (figures showed that wages; ,(had risen 13 per cent, and ') prices and costs 17 per cent, ’(he said. Wage and salary) 1 earners were dropping, >|further and further behind. I ; “Unless we take a stand,) J we will drop even further! ;|behind. The Prime Minister' ’(made it quite clear we would) ’(have to suffer in living stand-) dards. He knows we are al-) ■ ready suffering. We are i carrying the burden.” 1 Mr Knox described Mr ' Muldoon and his “think • tank” as unpredictable. “1 < call it his thick tank,” he ; said, drawing a laugh from ■ an audience which had been subdued until then. He said he did not believe ; the workers would ever be free of wages bodies and r?t strictions. i Mr Knox quoted the in- / creased costs to workers in . the vital areas of housing. ; food, clothing, and transport. “How long can we suffer ‘ this type of increase?” There was no doubt that i workers’ pay packets were - being reduced, not only by cost increases, but also be-; s cause employers 1234 234

I tcause employees were workring fewer hours, with bans lion overtime, or reduced (hours. ' “The moment they took i | subsidies off bread, flour, ; I milk, and butter, there was' >lno doubt the cost of living! I)would increase tremendously.) /They knew that.” ( Mr Knox was interrupted! [ by a worker who shouted' (that he worked for himself; ,;45 hours a week, had five •jchildren, and was “managing • all right.” I) “I suppose you take home; (a tremendous pay packet,”) returned Mr Knox. ' “Yes, 1 do,” the man re- ) toiled. Mr Knox replied: “I will; , debate it with you any time.’’! Mr Knox said that the ■ drivers’ award conciliation i talks in Wellington later i this month would be a test) case for ail workers. i Sir Thomas Skinner would, ; be back in the country in; time to take part in the talks, which would settle whether other unions had the right to; conciliation, to force employers to discuss matters under awards. “This 12-month freeze took away the right of the worker to discuss any other cortdi- ■ tions. under awards,” Mr Knox said. “A worker did not even negotiate for a pair Jof gumboots.”