Rule of law essential, say business heads

Press, 3 November 1981, Page 13

Rule of law essential, say business heads

PA Wellington Business leaders have appealed for an end to “confrontation. law-breaking and bullying" in industrial relations. Representatives from the Employers’, Retailers’ and Manufacturers’ Federations, the Chambers of Commerce and Federated Farmers, met recently in Wellington, and agreed the rule of law was essential for a stable society. The president of the Employers' Federation, Mr Stanley Duncan, said there had been several instances this year of sections of the union movement acting in an unlawful manner, “yet expecting immunity from prosecution because of a vague connection between their actions and industrial relations.” . The trespass dispute at Auckland Airport was a. notable example,'said Mr Duncan. “When people deliberately trespass, restrict the freedom of others to go about »eir business or otherwise igage in confrontation, they

must be prepared to accept the consequences of their actions. They are flouting the law.” Procedures for handling disputes were well established and effective, yet too often they were ignored in favour of direct and unlawful action, the group said. Confrontation, law-break-ing and bullying had no place in industrial relations, and New Zealand needed to settle its problems rationally, rather than emotively, or by the use of industrial muscle, he said.. ■ >