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FOsP, . S PMEMS MinivTeff C-0ERRA
PRIM& MiNUSTER' S PRESS CONPERCE XN MELB3ORNE 76th NOVEMBER
OPEMWG STATEMENT BY TME HON. J. M. FRASJt
INDUSTRIAL RMIATIONS
The decision of the ACTU yesterday Cive months a-Itor the release
of the detailed Liberii National Country Parties policy . on
Indutriat ftelations is a belated attemnpt to bolater Labor's
diminishing suppart amongst ordirvary trade unioni-t84
0I4-his double-hatted role as ACTU and ALP President, Mr Hawke
is* rnaorting to this kind of tactic in an attempt to revive the
niyt. of Labor's claim to a special relationfhip with the union
MOVext. The record of Labor in goverruimet shows this to b* nothing more
than a myth.
-In iq72., under the Liberal' National Country Parties industrial
dispuiite accounted for two million man days 1Qst and $ 32 idllioft
in 1tost. wagC.
In 1974, af tc. r two years. of Labor it-governmeifit-7x and a quarter
milion man days werc lost and wages loat totalled ' 218 million.
That io, man days lost under Labor trebled and wages lost' we: nt
up four times.
In 23 years of Liberal National Country Party Govenmcnt, the
monthl1y Average of Working days lost was 94.000. In two and a
half yeAr3 cf Labor gvcrnmonh-that monthly avirage was 3G7,000
days. That it, four times our fiiure:. L
I , r In government the Labor Party caved in to militant pressure in the
case of export bans relating to beef and wheat.
It has stood by on occasions when thuggery of the worst type
has occurred in industrial relations. The judgement given in
the Builders Laborers Federation deregistration case and the
Sweeney Report into payments' to maritime unions cite examples'
of this nature.-A2
0 i
In the current election campaign, the Labor Party is acting on th
' presumption that it is entitled to the unquestioning financial and
political support of trade unionists.
This is despite the fact that Labor's economic incompetence has
created unemployment on a greater scale than at any time since
the depression of the ' thirties'. Information available to me
indicates that unemployment may go as high as 335,000 ( actual)
in June,-1976
But Labor wants to ignore these facts and go on exerting open
pressure on unionists by enforced stoppages to enable attendances
at political rallies, by pressure to subscribe a days pay to the
ALP through unions, and by pressure to distribute political
literature and exhibit stickers and slogans.
I believe a great number of ordinary members of trade unions
in Australia resent this attempt at ruthless political exploitation.
I believe that these tactics will generate a groundswell of
resentment amongst union members who have no wish to be politically
regimented by militant and unrepresentative union officials.
-2-
The only real relationship that. exists between Labor and the
industrial movement is one of a. Labor government submitting to
the demands of militant unions, or of a Labor government failing
to act in the face of evidence of union extremism.. I
1.
' i It~ i: A
.; li
Observance ot two pri. nciples in wage ddjustments:-tho need to
raiae the minimum wage and appropriately -rewarced t; kill, effortand
reaponeibili Ly.
The development of p-rnainnt machinery at. tlic shop floor ) cvol
for continuing consultation botwuon u~ nployees and mnagement
rather than solely at tirtic o crisia.
Re-establish the NTAC as a for= aw for continuing consultation
bew-ten qovernment, employers and employa4.
a strrelthen dispute settling procedures to prvhk for
greater obligation to neqotiate and conciliate.
E tablishment of the Industrial Relations Bmreau to secure Uic
observance of in'fuutrial law.
Provide the Industrial CourL with the maximum flexibility in
determining cons equences for the breaking of industrial
agreements or awards. jn