P.S.A. supports Polish workers

Press, 6 September 1980, Page 24

P.S.A. supports Polish workers

PA Wellington Many of the rights sought by Polish workers have not yet been established in New Zealand, according to the Public Service Association’s executive committee. The executive had resolved to express support for the Polish workers who had recently taken direct action to defend and improve their living standards and build stronger and more effective trade unions, it has said. The Poles’ demand for free trade union’s and the right to strike- were rights which in New Zealand had been attacked by the use of; such measures as the Public;' Service Association Withdrawal of Recognition Bill, the Commerce Amendment Act, the penal provisions of the Industrial Relations Act, the laws allowing injunctions against workers taking action, the Remuneration Act, and the Fishing Industry Union Coverage Act. The fishing union act es-" tablished a system of State- ' controlled unions similar to those opposed in Poland. The executive deplored attempts to split the New Zealand trade-unioh movement on the question of the

Polish dispute and had instructed its officers to liaise with the Federation ■ of Labour and the Combined ‘State Unions to achieve the greatest possible unity.