Tasman unions seek truth in call for talks

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 1

Tasman unions seek truth in call for talks

PA Auckland The combined Tasman mill unions are believed to have called for talks with the management to establish which party is telling the truth in the row, the "New Zealand Herald” newspaper reported this morning. The call, which the company welcomed, came after representatives of the 12 unions met the president of the Federation of Labour, Mr Jim Knox, in Auckland yesterday. After the meeting, Mr Knox said the dispute had been officially handed over to the F.O.L. He said the F.O.L. would set up a team of combined union representatives to meet the mill management to discuss the row. Mr Knox refused to say

what points the unions would raise with the company. He expected to be in touch with company executives today to set up a meeting. However, it is believed the combined unions, which have been divided over the dispute, want to use the talks to identify the history of the row and the issues involved. One source said, “They want to ascertain who really is telling the truth between the company and the pulp and paper workers. “If they find out the company is wrong, a series of resolutions have been passed giving support to the pulp and paper workers. But if it is the other way round, the unions will probably tell them to go back to work.”