Strike record ‘enviable’

Press, 29 April 1982, Page 11

Strike record ‘enviable’

PA Wellington New Zealand has one of the best records in the world, the ’ Labour spokesman on industrial relations, Mr E. E. Isbey has said in Parliament. Mr Isbey said the Government made an unfounded assertion when it said that inflation was caused by industrial unrest and high wages. He quoted figures to show New Zealand had an enviable record compared with other countries: 357.6 working days lost per 1000 employees. compared with 30,154 in the United States, 11,910 in Britain, and 3312 in Australia. The figures came last week from the executive officer of the Trade and Industry Department, Mr B. L. Pomeroy, Mr Isbey said. "It means that in America. 100 times more working days are lost per 1000 employees

than here in New Zealand. Mr Pomeroy’s figures mean that in Britain. 30 times more working days are lost per 1000 employee's than here in New Zealand." The Government should be "singing the praises” of the Federation of Labour rather than maligning it, Mr Isbev said. Mr Isbev compared the United States inflation rate with that of New Zealand. Latest O.E.C.D. figures showed the American rate at 6 per cent and that prices were going down. "That means, even with their very high wage levels which in many instances are three or four times as much as New Zealand workers, and with 100 times more working days lost, they managed to reduce their inflation rate to a figure that is virtually a third of New Zealand's inflation rate.” Mr Isbev said.