Cleaners’ union challenged

Press, 8 November 1978, Page 2

Cleaners’ union challenged

; It was totally incorrect to ' say that employers’ assesjsors did not turn up for the (recent cleaners’ award talks, said the national president of the Cleaners’ Federation (Mr B. Blacker) yesterday. Mr- Blacker was commenting on a statement by the secretary of the Canterbury Cleaners’ Union (Mr G. Cumming), who had alleged (that the employers’ assessors. had not arrived at the conciliation talks. “The employers did turn up, but because the Auckland union had withdrawn from the award, which traditionally had been a national one. the employers applied to the Arbitration Court for a ruling.” said Mr Blacker. “This is to be heard on November 23, and the employers will abide by it, (whether the award is to be split or not.” I He said that as the • employers were forced to (pay their own air fares (the ; Government pays if a con- | ciliation council is set up), it

>i was ridiculous for Mr Cum- ■ ming to say that the; I employers did not turn up. ; “Indeed, the employers [ : consider it was the union's i fault that negotiations did not get under way as it is . the Auckland union that is • trying to split the national .[award and this would lead [ only to leap-frogging in conI [ ditibns and rates of pay. as . the Auckland or the national .[federation assessors would : try to outdo each other in negotiations with the ’[employers,” said Mr Blacker. ’[ Of the allegation by the 1 [ union that the employers [ ; were trying to save paying ‘[increased wages by delaying /the talks, Mr Blacker said [ that Mr Cumming should be [aware that prices for clean-1 JI ing contracts could not be ; /raised under the present J price controls unless there; ; [was a union award or gen-[ [ eral wage order. ; [ “The employers are most[ > disappointed that the award was not settled, but consider ■; it was the union’s own [ I fault,” Mr Blacker said. [