F.O.L., Govt, sign agreement on Kinleith settlement

Press, 2 April 1980, Page 3

F.O.L., Govt, sign agreement on Kinleith settlement

PA Wellington ( The Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger) and the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr W. J. Knox) have formally signed the agreement under which the Kinleith mill workers re-, turned to work after a three-month strike. The unannounced signing took place in Mr Bolger’s office in Parliament Buildings, a spokesman said yesterday. The signing acknowledges formal acceptance by the F.0.L., ..acting on behalf of the Kinleith combined unions, of -a package proposed by the Government caucus. A major part of the package was for the- F.O.L. to sit down with the Government and the Employers’ Federation to. work out. a united approach to wage-fixing. These talks are expected to begin soon. Under .the agreement the, F.O.L. has recommended —I and trade union members at Tasman Pulp and Paper Company, Ltd, Caxton Paper Mills, Ltd, and N.Z. Forest Products, Ltd (Kinleith) have accepted -— the following terms of agreement: (1) The. Government has lifted the Remuneration (N:Z. Forest Products) Regulations on and from March 27, 1980, and'has enabled the parties to reinstate-the negotiated rate of 481.8 cents for a core tradesman, employed at Forest Products.

(2) “Common claims” (except wage rates) can be negotiated ’ after -one year. , Trade union members at the • aforementioned plants agree:

(1) That collective agreements covering their employment will continue in force for two veajs, with a reopening of wage negotiations after one year. (2) That for the reopening of wage rates the movement in the core tradesman’s wage rate in the pulp and paper industry will be limited to the cash movement in the core tradesman’s wage rate under the New-Zea-land Metal Trades . Award. . .. . ,« The > parties also signed the following undertakings: (1) The president of the Federation of Labour accepts that coupled with this system of restraint will be a com-

mitment from the F.O.L. that the high rates established in the pulp and paper industry do not flow into other ruling rates; (2) There is agreement by the president Of the ’• F.O.L. that they are willing to enter into ' round-table discussions • with the Government and the Employers Federation on broader wages policy issues; (3) There is acceptance that while the formation of a single industrial union is. the : ide'al there is an undertaking from the F.O.L. to assist to rationalise collective bargaining in the Tulp and - ■ papei y i industry through the formation of a co-ordinating committee; " (4) There is a commitment with the president of the F.O.L. that he will work towards the formation of an industrial association of unions and negotiation of compdsite awards at New Zealand Forest Products; (5) there .is agreement by union members at N.Z. Forest Products for con- - tinuous operation for 363 days of the year in ’ return for the productivity premium included in the.' new wage agreement. . . . v ' New Zealand Forest'.Prpducts’ workers at the Kinleith mill resumed normal work at 8 a.m. last Friday. .