New law might cause friction, say employers

Press, 30 September 1983, Page 5

New law might cause friction, say employers

About 60 employers’ representatives with control of a work-force of about 15,000 discussed the Industrial Law Reforms Bill at two meetings in Christchurch yesterday. The director of the Canterbury Employers’ Association, Mr N. M. West, said that the members were not asked to debate the pros and cons of the bill but to look at the bill as employers and determine whether they would be able to run their businesses effectively under it.

Mr West said that the over-all impression he gained was that they accepted the principle of voluntary unionism but were concerned to see that they would not be placed at a disadvantage.

“What is worrying them is that in some cases they

will be caught between opposing views of their staff with little opportunity to do much to resolve the issue,” he said.

Mr West said that as workers would not have to join unions after the bill came into effect, possibly some would join and some would not, and in any establishment this could mean that those who joined might not want to pay union fees to obtain the benefits which those not paying union fees were guaranteed to enjoy under the new law. The friction which might develop between the two groups was what was worrying the employers. “What we have been asked to do is to do our best to make sure that what becomes law does not result in employers being put in an invidious situation,” said Mr West.