New council may make trade unions stronger

Press, 11 June 1987, Page 38

New council may make trade unions stronger

PA , . . Wellington ■ The creation of the :New Zealand Council of Trade Unions later this year would' help forge a much stronger and more efficient trade union movement, predicts the former' Federation of Labour vice-president Ms Sonja Davies.: _ / - Addressing a Wellington sales and marketing executives’ luncheon meet- ■ ing, Ms Davies said an informed and active union membership was crucial * in'd modern industrial society. .The council’ which would embrace both private and State _ unions, was expected to a vital role in assist

ing unions to respond to the challenge of change, she said. / Ms Davies, who stood down as vice-president at this year’s F.O.L. conference to contest successfully theLabour nomination for Pencarrow, said fiie: labour market had been particularly affected by the period of rapid economic and social change now buffeting New Zealand. The traditional, established and seemingly in-, 'violate institutions. were fapt disappearing* under the corporatisation process and these changes presented* a real challenge to unions.-; ■ "Job casualisafioni and

part-time work, and the bid now to destroy national awards will all have a big effect on the ability of unions to be ,of service to their members,” Ms Davies said. The advent of the council was timely and significant because its structures would rely heavily on provincial and regional membership input and activity. The new organisational structures, together with greater trade union education, would provide a better informed and more active union membership. But the union movement, still had a long way to go to divest itself of the deep-seated anti-union sentiment within the wider a, community, Ms Davies/said.