Wellington union deregistered

Press, 4 September 1976, Page 1

Wellington union deregistered

PA Wellington The Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) deregistered the Wellington Boilermakers’ Union yesterday. Actions of the union in the Wellington area continued to disrupt seriously and impede work vital to New Zealand’s well-being, he said, referring particularly to the disputes with William Cable and Company, Ltd, and at the Union Steamship Company’s works. The Government simply could not stand by while undertakings in the heavy engineering industry in the Wellington area were subjected to “the totally unwarranted and unacceptable actions which have become ail too common with the Boilermakers’ Union,” Mr Gordon said.

Just how far union reaction to the deregistration will extend, or what form it will take, is not yet known, says Cedric Mentiplay. The deregistration drder will directly affect about 270 workers in Wellington and Hawke’s Bay. The timing of the deregistration notice, he says, is related to the recovery' of funds belonging to the union, and lodged with the Public Trust Office. It is understood that the union has made no early move to withdraw them; and deregistration means that the funds are frozen, and the union has no right to them. The union now officially does not exist, and so ceases to be a party to any award or agreement. Mr Gordon would have to approve the registration of any future union. Mr Gordon left for the

South Island soon after issuing his statement. The deregistering of the boilermakers in Wellington would not solve the unrest in the engineering industry, said the secretary of the Canterbury Trades Council, (Mr Frank McNulty) last evening. “Deregistering the union is only a form of intimidation, and will not have the effect the Government hopes it will have, because the workers and the employers will still have to overcome their common problem.” “Bad industrial relations develop from a lack of understanding by the Government and employers,” said Mr McNulty. The situation had developed to such a stage that the Government could see no way to solve the problems except introducing harsh legislation and deregistering unions, he said.