Ban on work with non-unionists

Press, 2 November 1983, Page 3

Ban on work with non-unionists

PA Auckland A stop-work meeting of 4500 hotel, restaurant, food, catering, and hospital industry workers at Alexandra Park, Auckland, yesterday decided not to work with non-union labour. If, under provisions of voluntary union membership classes in the proposed Industrial Law Reform Bill, non-union labour is hired next year, work will cease at that particular workplace and will not resume “until the situation is rectified.” This was the message from yesterday’s gathering, said the Auckland Hotel and Hospital Workers’ Union’s secretary, Mr Rick Barker. The meeting gave the union’s executive authority to levy each member $1 a week to support those who might go on strike in places where non-union labour was hired. “There was a call to the Government to retain the present industrial system

until a more positive system is devised but, if the proposed law is passed, our workers will have closed shops and will not work with non-union labour,” Mr Barker said. Support for this policy was carried with six people voting against it, he said. Proposed youth rates of pay were condemned because it was considered that they would not create extra jobs and would put the jobs of older workers at risk. Mr Barker said the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, had been asked to attend the meeting. “We believe he made serious and concerted efforts to do so but could not get here. We will try again to meet him on another date to put our views direct to him.” Workers resumed work about noon after the meeting finished but. many companies lacked their cafeteria staff.