Unions make demands for Clyde project

Press, 27 September 1982, Page 2

Unions make demands for Clyde project

PA Wellington Work will not proceed on the Clyde dam project unless the site is excluded from wage freeze regulations and workers get 15 per cent more than special rates being paid on the Motunui synthetic petrol plant and Marsden Point refinery expansion sites, according to construction unions.

The construction unions made this clear, along with other claims, in letters sent to the contractor, Ed ZublinWilliamson, and the Government last week.

Although the Clyde high dam is part of the Government's growth strategy it is not exempted from freeze regulations, but the Motunui and Marsden Point projects are.

Federation of Labour president, Mr W. J. Knox, said on Saturday that federa-tin-affiliated unions likely to be employed on the site met a fortnight ago to thrash out union claims over the project.; Unions wanted to be exempted from the freeze on the Clyde job; wanted at least a 50 per cent New Zealand involvement in building the dam; and were unhappy about proposed German involvement in its construction, he said. The unions were still awaiting a reply from the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, said Mr Knox. However, Mr Muldoon said that there was “no chance whatever” of the Government bowing to the unions’

demands.

“The Clyde dam is going ahead. We are not going to be blackmailed into breaking the freeze. If these people want jobs they have to be prepared to work for reasonable wages. It is as simple as that,” he said. The unions were adamant that the Clyde site should be exempted from the freeze, said Mr Knox. He questioned why it was not if it was as urgent a job as the Marsden Point expansions.

Motunui and Marsden Point were specifically exempted so that higher wage rates could be offered to attract workers.

An experienced builders’ labourer working on an ordinary site in New Zealand gets $4.75 an hour, while a worker at the Motunui site gets a core hourly rate of $6.45. . After letters were delivered early last week, the uniops have,given the Clyde contracting company 14 days to agree to the claims, or else a dispute would be deemed to exist between them.

Before any work can start on the project', a composite agreement has to be negotiated.

In their letters, the unions also outlined demands to “provide accommodation of a standard acceptable to all affiliated unions” because of the shortage of accommodation in the area.

A peak workforce of 700 is expected to be employed on the Clyde dam and powerhouse sites.