Sacking upheld by conciliator

Press, 22 April 1986, Page 11

Sacking upheld by conciliator

PA Auckland The sacking of 36 workers by Pacific Steel, Ltd, after a strike on April 8, was upheld in a decision announced by an industrial conciliator, Mr John Button. Mr Button, who ruled that the dismissals were justified, said the Auckland company was “well aware that justice must be tempered with mercy and this I recommmend to them.” The dispute was discussed at a meeting before Mr Button after the company refused an Engineers’ Union request to reinstate the workers. The strike, which Mr Button described as a

wildcat strike, came after discussions over manning between a shop steward and the manager of the company’s rod mill shop. Mr Button said that he was advised at the hearing that the union had not been told of the dispute until after the strike began. The shop steward had an opportunity, before any wildcat action occurring, of contacting his union, he said. "I questioned him specifically on this and he advised me that he had not contacted the union before leading the workers out “This action I find appalling.

“While taking into account the heat-of-the-moment type of argument, there was adequate time for the matter to be discussed with management and the union before the workers took action.” The assistant secretary of the Engineers’ Union, Mr Peter Denny, said the union would still seek reinstatement for the workers because it believed the punishment was too harsh for the crime. A meeting would be held with the company this week, he said. A spokesman for the company said Mr Button’s decision would be studied.