Clerks, employers still at loggerheads

Press, 21 November 1986, Page 9

Clerks, employers still at loggerheads

The Clerical Workers’ Union and the employers are still at loggerheads over award negotiations.

Both insisted in Christchurch last evening that the other was holding up conciliation, and the sticking point appeared to be industrial action.

The employers advocate, Mr Neil McPhail, wrote to the union yesterday, saying that continued industrial action was the only thing stopping a return to award talks. The union said it did not accept this, as the employers had known the basis on which the union would negotiate since early this month.

The union is asking for 10 days annual sick leave instead of five.

“Then we are prepared to negotiate wages,” said the national secretary, Mr John Slater.

Industrial action by clerical workers would continue until the employers “come to some common sense about the issues involved,” he said. “This letter (to the unions) is public posturing on the part of Mr McPhail,” said Mr Slater. “Our industrial action is obviously starting to bite ... the employers have got to be more positive in showing the unions that they are prepared to ne-

gotiate.” Mr McPhail said the employers were being positive. “We are ready to negotiate, we want to negotiate,” he said. “The union’s insistence on industrial action is holding back any chance of getting back to the table.” The sick leave request was "impossible,” as those things should be settled in conciliation. “We hope the workers will force their union back to negotiating,” Mr McPhail said.

“Our letter is just trying to signal that it is not the employers who are holding the thing up.”