Local govt should stay out of industrial disputes

Tuesday, May 10th, 2005

Local government should stay out of industrial disputes

Auckland City Council and the Auckland Regional Council are well advised to stay out of the Stagecoach bus drivers' industrial dispute, says EMA Northern's Employment Services Manager, David Lowe.

"Councils are only looking to get the buses back on the road, not necessarily to resolve the underlying issues," Mr Lowe said.

'Neither Auckland city nor the regional council can offer anything helpful to either Stagecoach or its employees, except more pressure, which the parties need like a hole in the head.

"Central government has kept out of industrial disputes for years and local government should have learnt to do the same by now.

"The Mediation Service has tabled a settlement for the dispute and everyone will hope it is acceptable to the parties involved.

"The current flood of industrial disruption is the product of recent employment law changes. Third party intervention is no answer.

ENDS

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