Minister seeks talks

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 4

Minister seeks talks

PA Wellington Talks to resolve the underlying questions involved in the dispute at the Auckland Airport are wanted by the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger). Questioned after the decision of the Attorney-General (Mr Mctay) to proceed with prosecutions against picketers had ,been announced, Mr Bolder referred to “deep dissatisfaction" unionists might have over the decision. “But it ?is essential that the parties ■ start to talk to resolve the underlying questions in the dispute,” he said.

“I hope union leaders, anc the Federation of Labour’. 1 president in particular, will realise that the situation calls for leadership, — leadership in the sense that the prime concern is the good of New Zealand.”

The director-general of'the Manufacturers’ Federation. Mr 1. G. Douglas, saic yesterday that responsible sections of the trade union movement should tell those initiating the strike action, that they ’ were acting against the interests of he movement and of all New Zealanders. “While the federation does not argue with the need tc review the Police Offences Act or the case for peacefu, picketing it will never tolerate deliberate law-breaking on the part of' anyone, including trade- unionists,” Mr Douglas said.

The executive director o 1 the Freezing Companies’ Association, Mr P. D. Blomfield, said yesterday

that he was “amazed” that freezing workers throughout New Zealand had decided tc strike “at this time.” “We are just getting ovei our animal health scare as well as the .effects of the British seamen’s strike,” he said. “With the record number of lambs to be killec this year we can ill-afford further delays.” The time Had come for the GovernmenLto take a stand, said Mr A.:iF. Wright, Dominion president of Federated Farmers. ...

Mr .Wfight said the public was irritated and annoyed with the continuous stoppages which had beset New Zealand in the last few months.

“For any sector to set itself above the law in such a provocative manner will only harden public attitudes towards the union movement and its endeavours,” he said. The secretary of the Police Association (Dr R. A. Moodie) said that union threats to bring the country to a standstill unless charges against the arrested Auckland and

Ravensdown picketers were dropped were “quite unacceptable.” His members were “very concerned” about the way in which the unions had framed their demands for a settlement in the Auckland dispute. The leader of the International Metalworkers’

Federation, J Mr Herman Rebhan, yesterday accused the Government of acting like “sdpie cheap-skate junta” in arresting trade union, members at Auckland Airport.

In a telegram to the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger), Mr Rebhan said he was protesting on behalf of the I.M.F.’s 14 million members against the arrest of the 48 officials and members of the federation - affiliated Engineers’ Union. “The right to picket is a fundamental trade union right to be found in all democratic countries,” said Mr Rebhan, general secretary of the federation and a former United States labour leader.