Timing problem on I.N.L. talks

Press, 21 August 1978, Page 6

Timing problem on I.N.L. talks

PA Wellington f Talks between Independent Newspapers, Ltd. and unions j over staff redundancies are (expected to start soon, but ; ; their timing may cause new ’’ problems. 1 I A meeting for more than t (l000 of the publishing .! group’s Wellington staff had been planned for today and 'union officials had hoped to Ctell the meeting about re- , I suits of the talks. But the group’s managing 'director. Mr J. A. Burnet, said yesterday that the mane agement would not be ready j: to ’ meet union officials until e Wednesday. n It was not clear last even- - ing whether the mass meet,f ing would be postponed as a -result. I Mr Burnet said yesterday

rhe had advised union representatives that the company t:was ready to discuss "anysj thing they might like” at e; talks on Wednesday or later, t The offer depended on the vjresumption of normal work, jhe said. n; He was ready to give union g; officials justification for the distaff reduction policies. “We djwill be able to show conolclusiveiy that we needed to * take the actions we have,” he said. g The national secretary of .the Journalists’ Union (Mr - *M. P. Conway) said the attiy tude of his and other unions il was that they saw no need for any staff to be dismissed - at the moment. The unions would press for all reduna dancy notices to be withdrawn—" Then we can start y I talking.”