Agreement sought with unions

Press, 21 November 1981, Page 2

Agreement sought with unions

A National government would keep trying to reach agreement with the trade unions on youth rates of pay, redundancy or severance claims, and the four-day week issue, the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger) told a meeting in Picton on Thursday. “But if we cannot reach agreement, we will legislate,” he said. Mr Bolger said agreement on these issues was all he asked from the trade union movement . . . but he complained that he could not get hold of the president of the

Federation of Labour (Mr W. J. Knox). “. . . Jim Knox is too busy out there campaigning for the Labour Party. I want to see him, but I can’t.” Mr Bolger said New Zealand. at least at present, could not afford people on a four-day week for five days pay. High wages for unskilled, untrained young people denied young" people jobs, he told an election meeting. On the other hand, employers did not do enough to train young people, and the training must be improved.

The question of redundancy and severance pay had been about for years, but some of the recent payouts had been ridiculously high. Asked later why he thought they had been ■» so high, Mr Bolger said: “In simple terms, it is because some employers have been too willing, to pay.” Quoting the case of the Bank of New Zealand’s new headquarters building in Wellington, Mr Bolger said lie could not understand the agreement — you finish seven years late, and you get a bonus for finishing early.”