P.M.’s allegations countered

Press, 12 June 1984, Page 4

P.M.’s allegations countered

PA Auckland The president of the Aucklana Trades Council, Mr Bill Andersen, said yesterday he had recommended that workers at Marsden Point accept retum-to-work proposals. The alternative was a Draconian piece of Government legislation, he said. “I strongly recommended last Friday that they do sign the conditions. I have not been near Marsden Point since and I have not changed my mind,” Mr Andersen said. Mr Andersen was responding to assertions made yesterday by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Muldoon, at a press conference in Wellington. Sir Robert accused Mr

Andersen of recommending to the unions they reject the Marsden Refinery Constructors’ proposals. “The information that I have is that Andersen at the meetings that he addressed this morning advocated not complying,” Sir Robert said. However, the secretary of the New Zealand Electrical Workers’ Union, Mr Tony Neary, said yesterday he had recommended his members not sign the conditions. Electricians at the site, together with the boilermakers, were the only unions not to confirm their acceptance of the five conditions after meetings yesterday. Mr Neary said from Wellington last evening: "It would just be impossible for

the electricians to return under the terms laid down by the company. They will not go back under duress. “If I have my way they will never sign them.” Sir Robert had said earlier that the Government would put legislation through Parliament today forcing a return to work. Asserting that Mr Andersen had recommended refusing the proposal, Sir Robert commented: “It’s obviously a ploy by Andersen and his communist mates to say ‘well, we didn’t finally back down, we didn’t finally lose, the Government had to legislate’.” Told of Mr Andersen’s denial, Sir Robert said that “you have got to decide who you believe, haven’t you?”