Forest Products stride seems likely to spread

Press, 8 February 1980, Page 3

Forest Products stride seems likely to spread

PA Hamilton Strike action in the pulp and paper industry looked set yesterday to spread, and some sources felt there could be serious implications for companies throughout New Zealand. —N.Z. Forest Products is already embroiled in a fiveweek long strike with its unions, and there appeared yesterday to be little hope of an agreement after two days of talks in Tokoroa. —Unions at Tasman Pulp and Paper, Ltd, in Kawerau have presented a seven point proposal containing wage levels described as “very large*’* -■ *?■ ■ The Tasman unions presented the seven-point proposal in a surprise move at a relativity committee meeting at Kawerau late last week.

The relativity committee was aet up after a prolonged strike at the mill last .year, but evolved into a situation where the unions indicated what their wage demands

will be in the coming wage round. Part of th® Kinleith unions’ 22. per cent wage claim is based on the Kawerau unions receiving 12.5 per cent this year. NZ Forest Products has rejected this and offered 18 per cent. The relativity committee meets behind closed doors, and the company will not comment and union officials could not be contacted. However, industry sources say the unions are "askirig for considerably more than they are getting now.” “There will be problems — the quantum (wage rise) being sought is very large,” one source said. Sources said the wage rate contained in the seven-point proposal would certainly have a flow-on effect — so large it could not be ignored by Forest Products in its present dispute. “There’s definitely a link between Tasman and NZ Forest Products’ meetings with the unions.”

The wage quantum in the

proposal is not’ a formal claim, but an indication of what the unions will be seeking. Also contained in the plan is a proposal to reopen the agreement reached after last year’s dispute over tradesmen’s rates. ■'-> . ’

Forest Products executives met in Auckland yesterday to discuss what steps to take after the break up of talks in Tokoroa with union officials and delegates, and the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr W. J. Knox). At the talks the company increased its offer to 18.5 per cent, subject to agreements which would allow production at the Kinleith Mill on 365 days of the year, but this was not accepted. The company rejected union claims for a 21.5 per cent rise. Mr Knox was at Kawerau yesterday to talk with union delegates from the Tasman and Caxton mills. He will address a mass meeting of striking and sus-

pended workers at Tokoroa Memorial Park this morning to report on .the negotiations. Mr Knox said the increased offer by NZ Forest Products — from $4.69 an hour to $4.71 — was “significant”’

“It is significant that the company did increase its offer though its chief negotiator, Mr D. H. Wylie, said.it would not ’ '“The men are adamant they will, not go back to work till their, claims are met and they have a valid case,” said Mr Knox. During the talks the unions reduced their claims by 0.5 per cent. “The pulp and paper industry is an important earner of overseas funds,” said Mr Knox.

“Tn my opinion there should be a wage-fixing body within the industry.

“Now we have the two parties in dispute digging their foes in and another company agreement looming,” said Mr Knox.