Minister supported

Press, 21 October 1983, Page 12

Minister supported

The New Zealand Chambers of Commerce endorsed the initiative of the Minister of Labour, Mr Bolger, in moving to make union membership voluntary to follow the principles of freedom of association, according to its executive director, Mr P. J. Wakelin. The freedom to associate, or not to associate, are fundamental, and are basic human rights, he says. “Voluntary unionism is only one aspect of ratifying Convention 87 (of the International Labour Organisation). Not only should it give workers and employers the right to choose to belong, or not to belong to unions and associations, but it should also seek to limit the rights of government to constrain,

regulate, and deregister them.”

The chambers also believe that the introduction of the State Services Conditions of Employment Bill will correct an overdue improvement in the relationship of State and private sector wage fixing. Critics of the speech by the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, to the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry this week, failed to understand encouraging elements in it.

Mr Wakelin says he found the following points in the Prime Minister’s speech worthy of restating: © Calendar year inflation forecasted at 4 per cent. © A move from total freeze to restraint,

and a return to freedom in 1985.

© Business costs, especially relating to interest charges moving down. © External deficit reduced. To these should be added the actions taken to deregulate transport and air services. Now we are heading in the right direction, he says. “Real growth in the private sector provides the only permanent solution to the unresolved question of unemployment.” If Government continues its positive approach, and moves further in the directions indicated by the Prime Minister this week, then the business community can and will respond, Mr Wakelin says.