Militancy by jobless

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 2

Militancy by jobless

PA Auckland Auckland’s jobless will wage a political campaign against Labour Party economic policy after the announcement this week of increases in the numbers of those out of work. The Auckland Unemployed Workers' Union organiser, Mr Paul Blair, said yesterday that his group was aiming to change Government policy and would try to influence young voters on the issue. “We see it as a two-and-

a-half year election campaign,” he said. His union had been gearing up for action since the December 17 Government economic package. “We are redoubling our efforts now in the community to raise the level of debate around the question of unemployment to make it the one election issue for 1990." The unemployed workers’ union has called for a U-turn in Rogernomics with significant State intervention in the econ-

omy. Such calls were being ignored by the Government so the union would now talk to school pupils, university students, work scheme trainees and community groups to try to bring public opinion to bear. Mr Blair said that with unemployment around 100,000 the Government should use dole money to start up industries which would create real jobs rather than using it for handouts and schemes such as P.E.P.