Employers blamed for strife

Press, 17 March 1977, Page 3

Employers blamed for strife

PA Auckland I | A number of militant employers were responsible for the trouble involving the Boilermakers’ Union, it was alleged at the Commission of Inquiry into the heavy engineerng industry yesterday. Mr A. G. Mac Lean, secretary of the Auckland Boilermakers’ Union said some employers could be classified as militants within their own organisation. They were not prepared to discuss problems in advance with the union. “There are some matters that can be dealt with with some companies quite amicablv and some comnanies that make it very difficult,” he said. Mr Mac Lean said the Christchurch Boilermakers’ Union was able to sit down

with employers and discuss matters in advance, but this was not possible in Auckland. “There is no difference in union policy between Christchurch and Auckland,” he said. “We have quite an interchange of members. A boilermaker in the South Island is the same as one in the North Island.” Replying to questions from Mr F. F. Latham, counsel assisting the commission, Mr Mac Lean said he defined a militant company as one that took an arrogant posture. He denied that he thought militant companies were those that refused to accede to all union demands. Some employers, he said, had taken the opportunity of the inquiry to adopt a militant attitude to the boilermakers. “The association represent-

ing various groups of employers should look hard at some of their members and ask them to stop disruptive tactics,” he said.

At the request of the commission’s chairman (Mr R. K. Davison, Q.C.), Mr Mac Lean supplied a list of six Auckland companies where he felt industrial relations were good. The chairman said the commission would look at the companies. Mr Mac Lean said that when some companies went public and the previous owners, who had probably been skilled engineers ceased association with them, an appreciation of the problems of the men on the shop floor was lost. The two biggest problems with the industry were uncompromising employers and

economic ups and downs, both of which led to bad industrial relations. The union would welcome regular contact with employers in an area where progress could be made, not just at the time of disputes, Mr Mac Lean said. “We should have a regular dialogue and be in a position to put forward points of view as they affect the industry,” he said. Mr Mac Lean said he saw no reason why there could not be an amalgamation with the Engineers’ Union but it had to take place after discussions and be a voluntary decision of rank-and-file members.

Earlier, Mr Mac Lean told the commission that boilermakers never received compensation they were offered for waiting three days to work on the Penrod oil rig.