FCL tries to bring Kawerau unions together

Press, 10 November 1983, Page 23

FCL tries to bring Kawerau unions together

Fletcher Challenge had its worst ever year in industrial relations, the chairman, Mr Ron Trotter, said yesterday.

The main difficulties were at the Bay of Plenty Kawerau pulp and paper mill, he said. Kawerau was subject to lengthy strikes in May and June.

Mr Trotter made his com-

ments in a speech to Fletcher Challenge’s annual general meeting, where he also called for a “positive” approach to voluntary unionism.' He said that the average New Zealander had “a sense of fair play,” and was willing to work honestly for fair pay, but this did not mean that the industrial relations scene was satisfactory in all industries at all times. “Clearly it is not, and in this year we have seen in our own operations how destructive a. breakdown in relationships can be,” Mr Trotter said. “It was the worst we have ever had, and I hope we never experience another like it.” Mr Trotter said there were “no magic or simple answers” to Kawerau’s problems but the management there was committed to improving and developing relations with the workforce.

It was trying to teach the workforce to understand the strategies the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company, running the mill, was using to. gain international competitiveness, he said. “One of our prime aims at Kawerau must be the bringing together of all unions in a working relationship so as to avoid the impacts of any one taking unilateral action at the expense of others and the company,” he added. Among other matters canvassed in his speech, Mr Trotter said the wage-price freeze had made the community understand the need

to reduce inflation, and the challenge was to ensure the gains were not shortterm.

On the subject of voluntary unionism, Mr Trotter said a change away from the present system should be “progressive and controlled,” and the new legislation should be workable. The voluntary unionism proposal is embodied in the Industrial Law Reform Bill now before a parliamentary select committee. “With the Government obviously committed to proceed with the implementation of some form of legislation covering voluntary unionism, we believe it is important that all parties — Government, union?, and employers — address the question in a positive way ..

This was needed, “to ensure that any legisation that is introduced is workable and will not result in industrial disruption.” Mr Trotter said Fletcher Challenge supported the principles of voluntary unionism but agreed with submissions by the Employers’ Federation which had put forward some practical amendments.