Voluntary unionism move under attack

Press, 31 January 1984, Page 2

Voluntary unionism move under attack

PA Wellington Voluntary unionism legislation comes into effect tomorrow and the Opposition’s spokesman on Labour, Mr E. E. Isbey, yesterday condemned it as an attempt to incite trade unions. Mr Isbey said voluntary unionism had nothing to do with promoting industrial peace, but was designed to create a soured industrial environment in which the Government saw votes.

The legislation was a transparent attempt to in-

cite the trade union movement in an election year, he said. “It is obvious that the National Government has no chance of winning the next election on its economic performance. “The Government will go into the next election with a record of massive unemployment, an enormous internal deficit, a frightening overseas debt, and open conflict in its own ranks between the free marketeers and Muldoon sup-

porters. “A strong-arm stance on industrial relations is seen as the Government’s only hope of salvaging an election victory from the economic wreckage.” Respect for the law would diminish as a consequence of the legislation, he said. Voluntary unionism was an open invitationn to employers and unions to act illegally. De facto closed shops would be the norm, and the laws of New Zealand would be the loser.