Farmers ask unions to stop disruption

Press, 11 April 1978, Page 6

Farmers ask unions to stop disruption

“Farmers and the public generally will react bitterly if the freezing works unions continue their present disruptive tactics,” said the Dominion president of Federated Farmers (Mr A. F. Wright) yesterday. “While farmers are unhappy about some aspects of the way the recent, freezing industry' dispute was settled, they at least expected it to lead to a more responsible attitude by the unions,” he said. “With a reported injection of almost SSM of taxpayers’ money to boost freezing workers’ wages, union officials must realise that the public will not tolerate actions which further jeopardise our scarce overseas earnings,” Mr Wright said. Farmers would seek clari-

fication on a number of recent developments, he said. "First', in accepting the proposal for a shorter award, Federated Farmers required that the next award would definitely be agreed to and binding on all parties before the start of the new killing season. We are extremely disturbed that the regulations giving effect to the Government intervention do not spell out this requirement clearly.” Federated Fanners had now asked the Government to introduce urgently regulations obliging employers and unions to refer any outstanding issues to compulsory arbitration by late September. “The second matter for concern is the reported statement by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) that the Gov-

ernment contribution to the freezing workers’ increased wages may not continue beyond July this year,” Mr Wright said.

“Again our clear understanding was- that this Government contribution would not become a charge against the farmer. If this! is, in fact, proposed, farmers will ‘react angrily. Already farmers ate reeling under excessive cost increases, as was recognised by all parties during the recent negotiations. “While farmers obviously will be pleased to quit old ewes, prime lambs, and cattle, particularly during the drought, their reaction against the manner of settling the dispute will become very bitter if works stoppages continue and the other issues are not resolved soon,” said Mr Wright.