Conflict looms in transport industry

Press, 7 August 1982, Page 6

Conflict looms in transport industry

PA Wellington The possibility of conflict in the road transport industry is looming because of a refusal by employers th appoint assessors for the general drivers' award talks in Christchurch next week.

After yesterday’s national council meeting of the Federation of Labour, its president Mr W. J. Knox, said that unions had been advised to continue with their intention of having award claims heard in conciliation. He said that the refusal of the road Transport industry employers to attend conciliation was in direct breach of the Industrial Relations Act. “I believe there will be some pressure brought on employers to attend conciliation councils,” Mr Knox said. He had been fully briefed on the situation by the Drivers' Federation advocate, Mr R. J. Campbell.

Referring to the secretary of the Northern Drivers' Union, Mr G. H. Andersen, Mr Knox said, “One of our national councillors and a member of the national executive has also said that he feels it will be necessary to have discussions. He is connected with the Drivers' Union"

The employers’ advocate, Mr Drew Paterson, said that he would travel to Christchurch on Monday to advise the conciliator. Mr John Button, of the employers' intention not to nominate assessors.

Mr Paterson said the employers believed that if they entered conciliation knowing the intention of the Drivers' Federation to pursue a $35 a week wage claim, they would be committing an offence under the wage-freeze regulations.

He expected that Mr Buf-

ton would refer the matter to the Arbitration Court for a decision on what course should be followed. Mr Knox said that he had informed national councillors that it might be necessary to hold a special national council meeting. Commenting on the industrial situation generally in the wake of the Budget, Mr Knox said that it might even be necessary at some future stage to look at a special conference of the F.O.L. “If that is the case I intend to invite Public Service Association and Combined State Unions delegates as well," he said. Mr Knox said he believed that there was a need to coordinate urgent action aimed at gaining an immediate wage rise and the reversal of irresponsible Government budgetary and wage-freeze policies.