Pay campaign supported

Press, 14 April 1984, Page 1

Pay campaign supported

PA Auckland More than 2000 members of the Northern Storepersons and Packers’ Union yesterday pledged their support for a union campaign to restore free wage bargaining. • At another stop-work meeting in Auckland more than 100 members of the Stationary Engine Drivers’ Union called for a return to negotiations. The secretary of the stores workers’ union, Mr Mike Jackson, said his membership was “certainly looking to take some action against employers.” The meeting approved four resolutions. They were that financial support be given to workers in key industries who are taking direct action; support be given any national or district stoppage called by either the Federation of Labour or the Auckland Trades Council; industry or job meetings will be held to discuss action against em-

ployers; the union executive should be given power to call further stop-work meetings if required. The national secretary of the Stationary Engine Drivers’ Union, Mr George Hogarth, said his members were keen to negotiate not only higher wages but also new award clauses to cover technological changes which had occurred since the last award round. He said the union would refuse to commission new equipment and would take industrial action if employers refused to meet. Mr Hogarth said the union would try to encourage others to make combined approaches to employers. “This fight is for all workers and not just for us. Any approaches to a particular firm or company should be on a combined union basis.” A stop-work meeting of workers employed by the A.H.I. Group next week will discuss the wage campaign.