Accord ‘key election policy’

Press, 21 June 1984, Page 3

Accord ‘key election policy’

PA Wellington The Labour Party’s concept of a social accord conference has yet to be put in detail to unions and employers. The accord is based on the Australian 1983 national economic summit meeting. The Labour spokesman on industrial affairs, Mr E. E. Isbey, said yesterday that the accord would be sought at a conference of business, union, and government leaders straight after the July 14 poll.

The plan was one of Labour’s key election policies, he said. The Federation of Labour, Combined State Unions, and the Employers’ Federation have yet to hear details of the plan from Labour speakers. The F.O.L.’s secretary, Mr Ken Douglas, said there had been no specific approach from the Labour Party for an accord.

He expected the concept would be discussed at TuesJoint Council of LabtUr meeting.

The Employers’ Federation deputy executive director, Mr Ray Taylor, said the accord concept had never been raised in a formal sense, although Mr Isbey had referred to it when he outlined Labour’s industrial relations policy to the federation’s national executive.

Mr Douglas said that the Labour Party leader, Mr Lange, had told the F.O.L. annual conference this year that his party’s policy would be to consult and identify a consensus approach &>■ solving problems. f

“That was taken up by the F.O.L. It contrasted with the practice of the Government, which is exactly the reverse,” Mr Douglas said.

“But there has been no formal approach on accord, and in my view it would not be appropriate at this time to consider the concept. That can only be done with the government of the day. “What has certainly been indicated is an expectation that there would be a much more constructive consultation with employers and the F.0.L.,” Mr Douglas said.