‘Justifiable reason for most works stoppages’

Press, 17 February 1978, Page 17

‘Justifiable reason for most works stoppages’

PA Ta i ha p e There had been a justifiable reason for most freezing works stoppages over the last 12 months, said the Minister of Labour, (Mr Gordon), speaking at a Rangitikei by-election meeting. “I can be quite precise and say that since I had all the unions into my office about almost a year ago, with one exception I have not found a significant case where there has not been justifiable reason for such stoppages, bar one under inquiry now,” he said. He said he had no doubt that many in his audience, which included farmers, would challenge his statement on the cause of stoppages.

But he said: “Might 1 tell this meeting that the stoppage of a West Coast North Island works was justified on the ground that too much chlorine had been put in the treatment water?

“May I tell you that the recent stoppages for heat could have taken place earlier than when the temperature reached 91 deg Fahrenheit, because the employer had signed into the award that work could stop by mutual agreement when the temperature reached 85 deg? “Might I suggest that in an Auckland case where the work-force defied their own union and were later forced by that union and the management to sign written statements that they would kill out before stopping work in futuie that that was a more equitable solution than trying

to implement hundreds of individual prosecutions?”

Mr Gordon said the Government had honoured its pledge to strengthen the mediation service and a mediator was now work ing full time in Otago and Southland freezing works.

“In case someone is a little sensitive in this audience, I do not apportion all the blame for the trouble in the freezing industry on the unions.” he said. “I have indicated managerial responsibility, and I for one do not absolve all directors from bearing some of the blame.” Mr Gordon said he had noted with interest comments by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) suggesting, among other things, that the freezing industry should be established on a yearround basis. “How idealistic,” Mr Gordon said.

“Has he not got a spokesman who will point out the incentive needed to hold fat stock through the snows and frosts or mud of winter?” “We all aim at the objective, but for goodness sake let us be realistic."

Of unemployment. Mr Gordon said the Government had contingency plans and would take further steps to deal with it “as and when the situation permits.” “The employment figures do not settle down to any degree of accuracy on which we can make finite judgments for the months ahead until early March,” he said. “We have to get stu-

dents back to school, to universities, to teachers’ colleges, and to technical institutes, and more important still, it takes the private sector a month or two to get into full stride and for the Government to assess the effects of trading on employment levels.

“For the Government to intercede any earlier would be tantamount to inviting some employers to stand aside and wait in the hope that established normal employment would be subsidised by taxpayers’ money,” Mr Gordon said.