Marsden Point inquiry

Press, 2 May 1985, Page 17

Marsden Point inquiry

PA Auckland Marsden Point employers gave about 3000 workers stamped, addressed envelopes so that they could write to the Minister of Labour, Mr Rodger, about industrial relations on the refinery expansion site. Marsden Refinery Constructors’ industrial relations general manager, Mr Ron Richards, confirmed this under cross-examina-tion by thhe Boilermakers’ Union at the Marsden Point Committee of Inquiry on

Monday. Mr Richards produced as an exhibit a copy of a newsletter which M.R.C. gave site workers during a dispute last November. The union’s counsel, Mr Howard Keyte, said the exhibit was incomplete because it did not include the stamped, addressed envelope.

The newsletter announced a legal advisory service which M.R.C. arranged for non-striking workers who were allegedly harassed. Mr Richards said M.R.C.

provided the stamped envelopes because it wanted the workers to express their views to the Minister, as it believed he was not getting an accurate picture. “There was no suggestion what they should write,” said Mr Richards.

In cross-examination, Mr Richards said it was possible some workers did not strike because of fear of the Disputes Act. “In some cases the motive of men who went on strike was also fear,” he said.