Voluntary-unionism ballots ‘intimidation’

Press, 21 April 1977, Page 3

Voluntary-unionism ballots ‘intimidation’

PA Wellington The Federation of Labour was not sure which course to adopt on the Government’s planned ballots on voluntary unionism, the president of the F.O.L. (Sir Thomas Skinner) said. He told the Drivers’ Federation conference in Wellington that under the Industrial Relations Act, the Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) had to consult the F.O.L. before taking a ballot with a union.

The federation’s national executive would have to decide whether to allow itself to be consulted on an issue it objected to. The executive would discuss the matter soon.

“I’m not afraid of the Government” and its plans for ballots,” said Sir Thomas. “It’s just a plan to intimidate the trade union movement but we won’t be intimidated.” Sir Thomas said that he had no idea when or which union would be faced with a ballot. The executive had to decide if it should advise unionists to boycott the ballots.

The F.O.L.’s policy was quite clear — unionists would not work alongside gotiations in the industrial New Zealand could rely on support from the international trade union move-

ment on this issue. However, New Zealand was the battle ground and unionists had to show deterffiination before calling on international support. Sir Thomas said that the trade union movement had worked under wage restraints since 1971 while neither unemployment nor inflation had improved. “The F.O.L. is not going to sit down and, as a free trade union movement, see State interference continue in our affairs,” he said. He said that the F.O.L. had been told by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) that wage regulations would not be allowed to lapse without putting something else in their place. A delegation of drivers had recently returned from overseas, and Sir Thomas said that they would back his comments that in no other country did a free trade union movement face the interference New Zealand faced from the Government.

“Take it from me, we’ll do everything in our power to see a return to normal negotiations in the industrial movement as we knew it before 1971,” he said. ■ He said that industrial relations were at a low ebb. I Costs of food, housing, I clothing, light, fuel, and

transport had all risen substantially. It was easy to understand the increases in the food index w’hen it was noted that Watties made a $5.5M profit in six months.

Sir Thomas said that Mr Muldoon would try to consolidate his position this year in preparation for next year’s General Election. “He’s done all the nasty things, given the pills, and now will come the syrup,” he said. The chairman of the Combined State Services Organisation (Mr I. E. Reddish) sad later that the C.S.S.O. shared Sir Thomas’ concern that the wage freeze regulations may be extended beyond May 14.

The C.S.S.O. had tried to find out what the Government intended to do but, in spite of promises of discussions, there had been none.

A meeting of the C.S.S.O. executive yesterday asked that a letter be sent to the Prime Minister requesting that the promised discussions be held as soon as possible.

“The C.S.S.O. would be happy to join with the Federation of Labour in a united approach to the Government on this issue, which is of vital importance to #ll wage and salary earners,” Mr Reddish said.