Offer to consult with TLC over secret ballots issue reaffirmed

12/10/95

Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath has repeated his offer to consult with the Trades and Labor Council over the issue of secret ballots.

Mr Kierath said TLC secretary Tony Cooke was on record as saying he was not opposed to secret ballots, a cornerstone of the Government's industrial relations reforms currently before State Parliament.

"Secret ballots without standover tactics will give the ordinary rank and file workers a chance to vote in a democratic manner," he said.

"That cannot happen under the pressure and tension of a show-of-hands stopwork meeting.

"Mr Cooke says the unions do not oppose secret ballots, but they do not like the time it would take to process them.

"I have always been available to talk these things through.

"I have met regularly with Mr Cooke and his colleagues for the past two-and-a-half years to thrash out differences and difficulties.

"I am always willing to negotiate."

Mr Kierath said he doubted whether the unions or the ALP were really interested in talking through the parts of the legislation they found unacceptable.

"Industrial relations was to be the major plank of Federal Labor's bid to retain power," he said.

"That is what all this is about.

"Next week's blockade, the run of stoppages and the rhetoric are part of the build-up for the Keating election campaign.

"If Mr Cooke is dinkum he will come to the negotiating table so we can discuss these matters.

"I repeat, I will always consider constructive suggestions which may improve the legislation."

Media contact:  Caroline Lacy   481 2133  /  222 9595