‘Progress’ made in wage talks

Press, 22 July 1980, Page 6

‘Progress’ made in wage talks

PA Wellington Parties to the resumed wage talks — the Government, the Federation of Labour, and the Employers’ Federation — i failed yesterday to reach I agreement on a wages policy. ‘ However, all parties acknowledged that “progress was made” and agreed to a further meeting to attempt to hammer out the remaining differences on Monday. “We have gone a little bit along the road and we have made some headway,” the president of the F.O.L. (Mr W. J. Knox) said afterwards. “But,” he said, “another meeting will be necessary to consider further the proposals that the t three parties are looking at.” Mr Knox said the F.O.L. felt that since the adjournment of talks last week it had been able to back up information that the Government and employers had nOt'l

ibeen really aware of — "x ot : realising just what our intent i was on these proposals." Both Mr Knox and the Prime Minister (Mr Muidoon), refused to spell out the proposals which were discussed yesterday. “No, I don’t think we should give any detail," M r Muldoon said. “We have made progress We hope that next Monday we can wrap it up and that will take care of things in the meantime. There will be other things to do later on." The main points of the package under discussion, however, are believed to be- — The progressive amalga/ mation of New Zealand’s 300 unions into about 40 industry-based groups. — An increased minimum wage. — More emphasis on conciliation and arbitration procedures for settlement of industrial disputes.