Employers determined to resist union pressure in wage round

Press, 15 October 1986, Page 8

Employers determined to resist union pressure in wage round

PA Wellington Employers in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin yesterday continued their preparations for a sterner industrial climate, and held meetings to discuss progress in the wage round. Employers in Christchurch will meet today. In Auckland, several hundred employers held a two hour closed session on wage-round tactics.

said they were not going to be buckled by unioninspired strikes and work bans and reaffirmed their determination not to make award settlements beyond 6 per cent. At a meeting convened by the Auckland Employers’ Association, they said industrial action would not lead to pay offers being lifted to the levels sought by unions. The meeting was held

to review progress in the wage round and to discuss bargaining strategy. Speaking after the meeting, a senior advocate with the association, Mr Ralph Gardiner, said companies had expressed no desire to go beyond 6 per cent. “There was an overwhelming endorsement of the negotiating stance beinar,taken in talks,” he said.™

“But some sections considered 6 per cent too high and criticised the drivers’ settlement (the general drivers’ award settled at 6 per cent last week).” Mr Gardiner said that while there was no concerted employers’ plan to lock out or suspend workers taking action in support of wage claims, the issue had. been discussed. “Clearly, if action is

making it difficult for firms to operate they will have to look at suspensions. But that would be a decision for individual companies to take,” he said. The association would not prevent companies making house deals with workers. One or two companies, he said, had tried to do so but found that union officials had prevented such agreements.