Worker schemes ‘plan to weaken unions’

Press, 15 August 1978, Page 23

Worker schemes ‘plan to weaken unions’

? A Wellington Worker-participation schemes may be a concealed device to weaken trade unions, according to a Public Service Associ» ation report. The report, adopted by the association’s annual conference, pours cold water on most employeeinvolvement schemes — including many in Europe. Instead, it urges an extension of the traditional adversary situation — a system of collective bargaining between union and management reaching into «.! , issues affecting employees’ conditions and livelihoods. Worker participation schemes such as consultative councils preserved the myth that each firm was “one big happy family,” it said.

"The history of industrial and economic relations in New Zealand, especially in recent years, shows this to be at variance with reality.

“By offering unions in New Zealand .an illusion of power, while retaining a monopoly of its substance, management is setting a cleverly laid trap for the whole trade union movement.” Mast forms of worker involvement gave employees a “junior partner” role, which did little or nothing to improve their working conditions: lanagemen' continued to make vital decisions which affected workers’ livelihoods. Most farms of real industrial democracy would require changes in law to give employees greater powers. Such

moves were not likely to find support from either employers or the Government. '

However, law changes were needed before unions could pursue a policy of extended collective bargaining on a wider range of issues than at present, said the report.

Such bargaining would go beyond the traditional areas of pay and basic conditions, and ensure employees had a say in policy decisions affecting their futures.

“It could only be won by determined and strong unions, and if won would strengthen unions by widening their bargaining powers and encouraging member involvement in union affairs. “A scheme of extended collective bargaining would allow plenty of scope for local level bargaining. for example on job organisation, introduction of new work methods, health and safety factors.

“To involve delegates in these areas would be to promote a higher level of rank and file activism in association affairs and in work affairs,” said the report.

The P.S.A. conference decided to push for extended collective bargaining with State employment agencies and defeated an amendment which would have recog l nised other forms of worker involvement as worth pursuing. The association’s retiring president (Mr J. F. Turner), said moves such as allowing a minority of employees on company boards had once been seen as a big step forward.

“We would see it as a very dangerous step.” “Industrial democracy means participation of the whole union, not just a few members,” he said.