Unions ‘not going to step back”

Press, 13 July 1984, Page 4

Unions ‘not going to step back”

PA Dunedin The trade union movement had to let the Government know it was “not going to step back all the time,” said the president of the Federation of Labour, Mr Jim Knox, in Dunedin yesterday. “If Muldoon’s Government is re-elected our people will say, ‘What are we going to do now?’ "We are fighting for the survival of the trade union movement in this country,” Mr Knox said.

Today he will address workers at the Clyde dam site as part of his national tour in support of the Labour Party. Mr Knox answered questions about a report this week quoting him as saying that “industrial chaos” would result if the National Party was re-elected. “What I said was that I would first have to reconsider the situation and the way tactics were employed, and whether we would have to change those tactics,” he said.

“There could be a possibility of some industrial

problems.” Mr Knox said the trade union movement had been dealing with the same Government for BMt years. “We are not going to keep stepping back all the time, he said. A National Party proposal for site unions would gve the employer and the jvernment complete control. National had not communicated with the unions, Mr Knox said. “That is why I made that statement. That statement is based on the fact that we are just going to be back in the same position as we were.” “I believe that the public of New Zealand have had enough of the confrontation they see taking place ... brought about by Muldoon’s attitude towards the rights and freedoms of the trade union movement,” he said. The Labour Party, in discussions with the Joint Council of Labour, had agreed to look at housing, health services, incomes policy, and call a summmit meeting to talk about the economy.

It would also talk about a wage systemm that could be. agreed on. “There won’t be so many industrial disputes while there is a Labour Government in power. Labour does not want confrontation. “They have spelt it out to me,” he said. A Labour-F.O.L. accord would not be “firmed up” until Labour was elected and the parties could get together, Mr Knox said. Mr Lange’s statement that threats were not the starting point for recovery did not represent a backingoff, Mr Knox said. The accord would not necessarily mean the trade union movement and a Labour Government would agree on all matters of industrial relations. “While the Labour Part}’ will not do everything the unions want, vice versa the trade union movement may not do everything a Labour Government brings down,” Mr Knox said.

“But they will talk to us about it; That is going to be the best think that can happen to this country,” he said.