Union legislation in three weeks

Press, 10 September 1984, Page 1

Union legislation in three weeks

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

' In three weeks the Labour Government will introduce legislation repealing voluntary unionism and reinstating the unqualified preference clause for employment. The Minister of Labour,

Mr Rodger, told the Labour Party’s annual conference that the legislation would be passed into law by the end of the year. His announcement to the conference was not unexpected, but it received a tumultuous reception and went some way towards defusing union fire.

The union affiliates at the conference were very keen to have all industrial discussions taken “in committee” but, were heavily defeated on the floor of the conference.

Bitter anti-news media feelings among the unions prompted the move, and echoed, similar statements at the annual’conference of the Federation of Labour earlier in the year. Union delegates were determined there should be no further cuts in real wages. They were opposed to any move to let market forces guide the economy, and were strongly pro-inter-ventionist. The Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, had been expected to face an inquisition over his policies, but with the conference staying in open session, the union comments were milder than, expected. The conference strongly endorsed a composite resolution on working hours. After a. lot of argument, the final wording was: “That the Labour Government promote the concept of a 35-hour week as a corollery to increasing productivity and escalating technology, for the same level of pay and a miniimum of four weeks statutory holidays; and to provide more jobs to combat unemployment without loss of pay or seniority.” There was also a call for good trade union training schools, and changing the term “stop-work meeting” to “information meeting.” Further reports pages 2 and 8