Tasman share scheme popular

Press, 15 March 1980, Page 18

Tasman share scheme popular

PA Wellington More than half of the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company’s employees now hold •shares in the company according to the managing director (Mr L. C. Ryan). - The introduction of an employee share purchase scheme last year had exceeded the company’s expectations and half the total number of employees were now shareholders in Tasman, he said.

Staff were offered up to 400 shares each last year at 198 c when they had a market value of 224’c. The shares cannot be sold till an employee has been with the

company for three years, but after that time they can be sold or. taken with an employee if he leaves Tasman.

On industrial relations generally, Mr'Ryan said the climate had improved markedly after the settlement of the core rate of $4.81.

While there had to be a sensible level of similarity in rates paid to workers in similar industries in Ngw Zealand, neither now, or in the future, could there be absolute parity between individual companies. ’“There are different conditions, different bonus schemes, different allowances, and different job classifications between Tas-

man and other companies,” Mr Ryan said. Employee relations manager (Mr F. A. Conlon) said settlement of the $4.81 Tasman .core rate had been accepted in order to solve a relativity problem at Kawerau.

“We were aware of the flow-on possibility to the Auckland core rate, but it was agreed by parties to the settlement document that the settlement would not be quoted elsewhere in New Zealand by the unions and used as a ratchet,” Mr Conlon said.

Mr Ryan said in the past year Tasman had spent $1.5 million on improving work-

ing conditions and employee facilities. It provided its own I medical centre and had active housing and housingfinance programmes. Staff were also paid aj bonus last Christmas, which; netted employees about $100: each. , i “These are some of the steps taken in the past year or two which demonstrate our commitment to consistently good employee relations?’ Mr Ryan said. “Since the union officials and delegates we deal with haven’t changed their spots, we can be confident this approach is contributing to the improved industrial scene at Kawerau.”