T.E.P. concern spreads

Press, 7 October 1980, Page 3

T.E.P. concern spreads

The Labourers’ Union has joined the National Union of Railwaymen in expressing concern about the effects of changes to the temporary employment programme. The N.U.R. has said that it might lose 600 members by January 31, the deadline for the change from T.E.P. schemes to project employment programmes (P.E.P.). The Canterbury branch of the Labourers’ Union might have 1000 members — one third of the total — affected by the changes, said the branch secretary (Mr R. A. Lowe) yesterday. However, while the N.U.R. has said that it will hold stop-work meetings which might disrupt train services, the Labourers’ Union has no plans to take industrial action.

Instead, it has asked the national council of the Federation of Labour to make representations on its behalf to the Government, to have the scheme modified. The council will meet today. Mr Lowe said that the union wanted T.E.P. workers to be transferred to P.E.P. work without having to stand down. It also wanted the new maximum of six months temporary work on any project to be replaced by a system whereby employment would be available for as long as work was available. The union also wanted the Government to provide meaningful work to all persons unable to find work, who were receiving unemployment benefits at present. The union would also ask the Canterbury Trades Council to consider convening a meeting of all T.E.P. workers, said Mr Lowe. Some T.E.P. workers in rural counties had already been dismissed, and others had been given warning notices that future employment could not be guaranteed.