Disruptions planned

Press, 28 August 1979, Page 6

Disruptions planned

Christchurch might soon be hit by a series of strikes planned to demonstrate the unions' annoyance with Government policies. More severe action might follow. More than 300 union representatives were called together by the Canterbury Trades Council yesterday to discuss such matters as the Government’s Remuneration Bill. They agreed that individual unions throughout Christchurch should call shop-floor meetings in the next few weeks to inform members of the bill's implications and those of other Government policies. One line of action which might result from these meetings would be individual strikes, said the

secretary of the Trades Council (Mr L. G. Morel). "We believe that while the employers say they do not support wage-setting by the Government they have not done enough to oppose it — they are guilty by association,” Mr Morel said. This series of initial actions by each union would be followed by “even greater activity directed straight at the Government. “Many workers are saying: ‘Let’s really attack the Government by having national stoppages’,” said Mr Morel. The Trades Council had been given the power to organise any further stoppages it thought appropriate, he said, and the unions

had agreed to support these fully. “We are not thinking of a 24-hour stoppage, We are thinking of continuous action. It is not going to be something that the Government and employers can expect to ride out.” Mr Morel said the issue was being referred to other trades councils. Many had already met to discuss it. The council felt it had a valid answer to any suggestion that it was not being responsible. “We consider that the Government’s action in bringing down this legislation—particularly the Remuneration Bill, tvhich will in the long-term reduce wage packets—is itself totally irresponsible,” Mr Morel said.