Socred promotes automation

Press, 14 May 1981, Page 9

Socred promotes automation

PA Wellington Reorganisation of indus- / trial bargaining, worker participation in industry, and a minimum net weekly income are the main elements of Social Credit’s industrial relations policy, announced last evening by "the league’s industrial relations spokesman, Mr David Howes. He said that Social Credit would move towards flexibility and reduction in working hours in order to help promote its policy of full use of automation and the development of greater opportuni- • ties for leisure. Unfolding a six-point policy in a prepared address to a public meeting at Pakuranga, Mr Howes said that the first priority in Social Credit’s assistance to the unemployed would be a range of economic and social policies which attracted pri-

vate ana, where necessary, f public investment into the productive sector of the economy. The effect of these measures would absorb the unemployed in renewed economic growth. It would promote greater processing of traditional primary products and the development of new industries using New Zealand’s own resources and technology. Regional development would be funded by greater investment by the trustee savings bank system. On trade unions, Mr Howes said that Social Credit would encourage the reform of union structures. The Federation of Labour and the Combined State Unions would be encouraged and expected to represent workers at national level. Industry unions, representing all workers in related industries on a national basis, would be encouraged.

The amalgamation’of all unions into industry unions would be negotiated between a Social Credit government, the Federation of Labour, other representative bodies, and union members. Industrial councils, representing all workers at the one place of work, or representing all workers in small-scale projects within defined localities, would be established. These would bargain for and represent all workers at the one workplace. Industrial councils would be expected to affiliate with the parent industry union and other representative bodies. Mr Howes said that Industrial Trusts would be elected by members of industrial councils to act for and be responsible to workers who would be responsible to worker shareholders, for the administration of their

shares in co-operative enterprise. Under Social Credits worker shareholding scheme, participation by employees in the share capital dividend would be encouraged and assisted by tax concessions and special loans to industrial trusts. Employee shareholdings would entail the same rights and responsibilities as ordinary shareholders. Social Credit’s incomes policy would implement a minimum net weekly income, based on the singleincome family unit, which would provide an adequate, good standard of living for all. Mr Howes said that the reduction of working hours would.be related to a strong and positive programme at local, regional, and national levels for helping people to use their leisure constructively.