Bitter debate as F.O.L. rejects moderates’ bid

Press, 9 May 1980, Page 3

Bitter debate as F.O.L. rejects moderates’ bid

PA Wellington .Bitterness developed at tne Federation of Labour conference yesterday when the secretary of the Electrical Workers’ Union, Mr A. J. Neary, proposed that the conference draw back from its hard line on action to

■win a general pay rise. On Tuesday, the conference rejected the Government’s offer of a special tribunal to hear an application for a pay increase to compensate for increases in the cost of living. But Mr Neary proposed that the F.O.L.’s executive and key union leaders approach the Government yesterday and demand that a tribunal be set up in one month, during which time no action would be taken. His resolution caused a sensation, leading to bitter exchanges and cries of "defeatist.”

After a long debate, Mr Neary’s resolution was defeated after a tactical manoeuvre by the president of the Auckland Trades Council (Mr G. H. Andersen) who moved an amendment reaffirming Tuesday’s resolution and leaving any approach to the Government up to the F.O.L.’s national executive. Mr Andersen’s amendment was carried in a card vote, 424 to 110. Mr Neary unsuccessfully challenged the amendment as negating his. resolution. *The request was overruled by the F.O.L.’s president (Mr

W. J. Knox) who then had ito rule Mr Neary out of order for challenging the decision of the chair.

Mr Knox desperately appealed to Mr Neary to withdraw his resolution. “For heavens sake « , . I respect you as a trade unionist and a leader, Tony Neary, but do not let it be seen that we are divided,” Mr Knox said.

Mr Neary replied: "Are we getting so sensitive that we cannot or dare not bring 'down a resolution different from the national executive? We must reserve the right to oppose. If we don’t, then ,we are close to a dictatorship.-”

i Mr Neary told the conference it was "wishful think- ; ing” to believe that the • F.O.L. would get support for i industrial action when it • was not prepared to go to an independent tribunal to ; argue its case. He said his resolution was designed to put the Government on the spot — either it

■ agreed yesterday to set up the tribunal in a month "or action is on.” "We must give them the opportunity to refuse,” Mr Neary said. Mr Knox said the national executive would meet the Government at any time. Clutching the microphone on the Town Hall rostrum, he said: “We cannot dodge a struggle. We are confronted with a struggle because of the Government’s failure to 1 recognise that increasing costs are lowering the living ' standards of working 1 people.” If the resolution was pas- ' sed the Government might 1 get the idea that the F.O.L. i was not sure of its strength, i Mr Knox said, adding: "I’m ‘ sure of our strength.”

Tuesday’s resolution had been carried by the conference unanimously and supported by the Public Service Association and the Combined State Unions. When Mr Neary’s resolution was defeated by the conference’s adopting Mr Andersen’s amendment, Mr Knox said: "The Employers’ Federation and the Government should realise that no longer are we stepping back — we are going forward together. I will give you the leadership if you stand with me.” In a statement yesterday afternoon the executive said it intended to make an early approach to the Government to advise it of the unqualified opposition of the F.O.L. to the effects of the Government’s economic policies on the living standards of the working people, pensioners and beneficiaries. It said it would explore “every possible avenue” to have its approach for an immediate cost-of-living adjustment implemented at the “earliest possible time.” "For this campaign, the

(unity of the trade union movement will be of paramount importance and all affiliated trade unions are requested to pledge support for the implementation of the conference decision.” Yesterday, Mr Muldoon told a news conference he welcomed the move by the “moderate element” at the conference to try to get the decision on strike action reversed.

Strikes and disruption would cause nothing but loss of pay for the workers. Mr Muldoon said he noted that Mr Andersen — "who tends to back off under pressure”—had moved that the matter be referred back to the executive.

“This seems to be a typical Andersen tactic,” he said. Mr Muldoon said it was significant Mr Andersen was avoiding a direct confrontation with the "moderate element.”

The F.O.L.’s executive might now be prepared to accept the Government’s offer of a tribunal in view of the obvious feelings of many delegates, Mr Muldoon said.