Mr Rowling ‘builds cloud of emotion’

Press, 21 August 1976, Page 4

Mr Rowling ‘builds cloud of emotion’

PA Wellington The Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) has accused the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) and the Opposition spokesman on industrial relations, Mr A. J. Faulkner. of “building a cloud of! emotion over the actions of industrial strikers in an at- 1 tempt to justify their own in- 1 ability to bring industrial wreckers to heel during Labour’s term of office.” “The Industrial Relations Amendment Bill was not brought in without some consultation with the parties — albeit limited by the circumstances. The Opposition! knows that full well, but in-| sists on telling worker meetings otherwise,” he said in a statement “No-one is saying workers are not allowed to strike, and indeed, the National Goveinrnent upholds the right of workers to strike. But when you have persistent rolling stoppages day after dav, de-'

liberately inspired, crippling key industries, threatening job opportunity, no responsible Government can afford to sit back and allow that situation to undermine the economy. “The amendments to the I Industrial Relations Act w'ere introduced to deal with the 'rolling strike — nothing I more, nothing less. The Opposition talks as though the suspension of workers is something new — it is not. It has been used off and on for years frequently during Mr Faulkner’s term as Minister of Labour. "The Leader of the Opposii|tion talks of workers being (forced into blackmailing other 'workers, driving a wedge bell tween them. That will occur regardless of legislation if the i; irresponsible rolling strikes I persist and the militant ele- • rnents deny the majority of f responsible and moderate i unionists the right to con- ! tinue their normal emplovment. and standard of living.

The president of the Federation of Labour (Sir Thomas Skinner) said yesterday that a committee to coordinate union action might be set up at a meeting on Tuesday of the federation’s national executive. Sir Thomas said the meeting would be one of the most important in F.O.L. history. Any committee formed I would act under the directions of the national executive to advise and co|ordinate action. I “We don’t want to be in a I position under the new legislation where it can be [effective,” he said. “It will 'force us into the situation of I not putting parts of works out, but shutting the whole I works up. ' “The committee will look lat areas where action will [have the most effect, areas which can’t he subject to the j amendments to the Industrial [Relations Act.” he said.