PM backs Harre's wharfie message

By VERNON SMALL AND NZPA

Prime Minister Helen Clark has backed Associate Labour Minister Laila Harre for delivering a "moderate" message to protesting waterfront workers.

Ms Harre has come under fire from National MPs for addressing the 200 wharfies in Nelson while the Government was promoting mediation in the long-running dispute.

Helen Clark said yesterday: "It's a fine line, but it's a bit hypocritical of the National Party to talk about people taking sides when it was always very clear what side they were on in industrial disputes."

She understood that Ms Harre's speech was very moderate and urged the wharfies to continue mediation.

"Indeed, we are encouraging all sides to persist with the mediation process."

The PM said she knew Ms Harre was going to the meeting. The Alliance minister had a longstanding connection with the wharfies and there was no particular problem with her attending.

A spokeswoman said Ms Harre had sought advice from Helen Clark, Alliance leader Jim Anderton and Labour Minister Margaret Wilson before going.

Waterfront workers have been protesting for about three months over Mainland Stevedoring's use of mainly out-of-town casual workers instead of local Waterfront Workers Union members to load Carter Holt Harvey logs onto ships.

National's associate finance spokesman, Max Bradford, said Ms Harre's actions showed the Coalition's "true anti-business colours" in the face of "destructive union tactics" by the wharfies.

Federated Farmers also attacked Ms Harre, the Prime Minister and the Labour Minister for their tacit approval of Ms Harre's actions.

Ms Harre said she was invited to address the rally on behalf of the Alliance, which the workers had supported since before the election.

"I think you would have to have a heart of stone not to acknowledge that a large group of workers in port towns around the South Island feel their jobs, their incomes and their communities are at risk as a result of the current situation," she said on National Radio.

The rally gave her an opportunity to reinforce the Government's message to all parties involved "that we would like to see this dispute settled in mediation and I'm very optimistic that that is possible."

She said the previous National Government had "indulged in major union bashing" and had not hesitated to express views on who was right and wrong in industrial disputes.

"I was, in fact, far more cautious than that and very encouraging of the parties to go through with the mediation process and take it seriously."

Opposition leader Jenny Shipley said Ms Harre's actions demonstrated a huge conflict of interest.

"When you become a minister you say that you will put your personal interest aside and put the country's interest first."

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