P.M. wants F.O.L. pledge before talks

Press, 30 January 1982, Page 10

P.M. wants F.O.L. pledge before talks

PA Wellington The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) wants a personal assurance from the president of the Federation of Labour. Mr W. J. Knox, that the federation “does not set itself against the law of this country" before he (Mr Muldoon) will agree to a meeting over the police's involvement in industrial issues.

A meeting between F.O.L. officials. Mr Muldoon, the Minister of Police (Mr Couch), the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay). the Minister of Labour (Mr Bolger) and representatives of the police to 'discuss the police's involvement in industrial disputes was requested by Mr Knox in October.

Mr Muldoon’s reply, which was made public by Mr Knox this week, quoted the secretary, of the F.0.L.. Mr K. G. Douglas, as saying' that the F.O.L and the trade union involved knew that the workers in the Rixen dispute at Levin were "breaching and challenging the whole basis of our law relationships."

Mr Muldoon quoted Mr Knox as saying that Mr Douglas's comment was not a challenge to law and order but to “inform the Government that if it involves police in industrial matters the F.O.L. might have to take steps outside the law to achieve its goals of free wage bargaining and negotiations."

Mr Muldoon said that if Mr Knox failed to inform him that the F.O.L. did not set itself against the law “it would be pointless to convene the meeting you request." Mr Knox made public the correspondence after he had been asked at a news conference to comment on the arrests of officials of the Meal Workers' Union at Oring! on Tuesday. . He said that the arrests could lead to industrial action which could disrupt the meat-export industry. The union's national executive had met for a second day al the F.O.L.’s headquarters on Thursday and he was waiting for the outcome of this meeting. Mr Knox. said. “I sincerely hope the Prime Minister now realises that it would have been in the interests of the country to have called the meeting I requested. To allow the forces of the police to be used in industrial matters will not be tolerated. To our mind, the trade-union movement will come under State control if we allow that."

Mr Knox said that the meeting he had proposed would have been in the interest not only of New Zealand and industrial relations but of the police, "in which I believe there has been a deterioration of confidence since the Springbok tour."