Employers told: ‘Hold the line’

Press, 13 April 1982, Page 6

Employers told: ‘Hold the line’

PA Hamilton Employers must “hold the line” against unions that are trying to denigrate the economic structure of New Zealand, according to the president of the Employers’ Federation, Mr Stan Duncan.

In the April edition of. the federation’s the “Employer," Mr Duncan said the effect of the unions’ blind push fotj higher and higher wages cbuld be seen in New Zealand’s unemployment figures, in its balance-of-pay-ments deficit, and in individual companies’ viability. “We need to encourage moderate trade unionists to take a more active role in trade union affairs and not allow themselves to’be manipulated by those trade unions officials bent on the destruction of society as we know it,” he said. Society should be based on individual self-interest and individual initiative and it was the Government’s role to provide support for that. “This role should protect

and represent the common good, and provide the sort of support some people need to , .survive," he said. “Apart from this people 1 should be left to get on with their own affairs.”

This meant getting away from the attitude of "the world owes me a living.” The push by trade unions was a good example of that attitude, he said. “Trade, unionists must understand the effects of their exorbitant claims, must lower their expectations and play their part in controlling inflation.

"Employers must pull together and take comfort from their solidarity’,' particularly when’threatened by ‘stand-over’ tactics by certain unions,” he said. • . “Employers must find the strength to stand up to their union managers and say ‘enough is enough.’ ” he said. “With co-operation rather than confrontation we can promise security of" already created jobs and strive to create more.” he said.