Plan to suspend scour workers

Press, 26 January 1988, Page 4

Plan to suspend scour workers

By

NIGEL MALTHUS

Wool scour employers could soon start suspending workers in response to a load-out ban imposed at midnight on Sunday because of the breakdown in their award talks.

The employers’ advocate in the national award talks, Mr Neil McPhail, said that he understood employers were preparing to suspend workers who were “on strike,” or would soon be suspending those who were out of work because of the ban.

That would have the effect of enshrining in the award above award rates now being paid on inhouse agreements. Mr McPhail said that that was a misunderstanding. Such a clause would take away employers’ rights to decide whether to pay above award rates. The employers were not prepared to include a formal clause, enforceable in the Labour Court, but were “quite prepared” to do what other employer groups had done and include it as a memorandum of intent. That would then be a "permissive provision,” under which an employer would pay the higher rate if he could, but would not have to, if circumstances did not permit it, he said.

"Employers are adamant that there won’t be a clause in the award such as the union is demanding,” he said.

The wool scour workers, who are covered by the Meat Workers’ Union, had earlier voted for a load-out ban from January 10, but delayed it and returned to conciliation on the understanding that the employers had agreed to a “pass-on” clause in their award.