Meat works favour closed shops

Press, 2 November 1983, Page 2

Meat works favour closed shops

PA Wellington Industry closed shops would be allowed to be set up if the majority of employees wanted one, said the Freezing Companies’ Association yesterday. Secret ballots would have to be held on the issue and the decision should be reviewed annually, the freezing works employers suggested in a submission to a Parliamentary select committee. The committee is studying the Industrial Law Reform Bill which provides for the introduction of voluntary unionism and youth rates. The association said it feared that pre-entry closed shops might be introduced with prospective employees having to obtain union membership before being acceptable to those already employed. To counter that, it suggested that allowance should be made for preference or closed shop clauses in agreements if strict guidelines were set out. A big majority of meatprocessing plant employees were expected to continue with union membership if the bill was enacted. A small number would elect to relinquish membership with possible industrial consequences. “A closed shop or a form of preference inserted into an agreement would allow the wishes of the majority of workers to be recognised while avoiding the conflict associated with the employer having to cater for

the wishes of a small minority,” the association said. It also suggested that ratification by the Arbitration Court would be required and that the conscientious objection provisions be widened to allow more grounds for certified non-membership. The association told the committee that the bill made too drastic a change to the industrial relations system. The move from compulsory union membership to one of complete freedom of choice for the individual would not help industrial relations, at least in the immediate future. Wide discussion was needed before making such a change. An alternative would be better formulated in the present tripartite tdlks Waitaki N.Z. Refrigerating, Ltd, told the committee in a submission that the freezing industry required responsible organised labour. “It certainly does not need the division, the distrust, the antagonism, and the resultant unrest that this bill will introduce,” it said. It believed strike action should be made illegal unless agreed to by a majority of members in a secret ballot, and it submitted that trade unions become liable to pay damages if there was unlawful industrial action. Waitaki said it would also prefer to see action taken to reduce the number of unions. It supported the introduction of youth rates in the industry.