Cabinet meeting sought

Press, 14 August 1976, Page 4

Cabinet meeting sought

PA Auckland A special meeting of the Employers’ Federation decided tn Auckland yesterday to ask for a meeting with the Cabinet as soon as possible to try to avoid a confrontation with unions on the award-negotiation issue. The president of the Federation of Labour (Sir Thomas Skinner) had nothing to say yesterday, and the Employers’ Federation executive director (Mr P. J. Luxford) said he could release nothing after the urgent Employers' meeting. There were strong indica-

tions, though, that the parties were still seeking a means of getting at least one ward heard by the Industrial Commission, so that an independent body could rule on the "exceptional circumstances” provision in this year’s wage regulations. Federated Farmers. Manufacturers’ Federation, and Associated Chambers of Commerce representatives were also at the employers’ meeting yesterday. The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon said last night that he did not think it was necessary for those groups to address the full Cabinet, because at a meeting on Wed-

nesday he had told the same groups the Government was not prepared to alter the Wage Adjustment Regulations. The Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) said the employers’ announcement of a request to meet the Cabinet still seemed to be aimed at getting one award case before the Industrial Commission. “Everybody is trying to find common ground to get it (a case) to the commission,” he said. It now appeared that negotiations might take a bit longer, said Mr Gordon, before the present industrial tension could be eased.