7;ut that red tape
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-IE GREEN PAPER on industrial relations has been variously described as pathetic, )ysmal, useless. Nowhere will Mr Prior find even polite applause for his effort. But he is not alone; he joins a long line of Ministers who, since 1968, have tried to dye industrial relations problems — without success.
To every problem there is a solution, the important thing is to identify the problem curately. It could be that a long line of Ministers have been unsuccessful because ey have failed to do this.
The relationship between employer and employee is not industrial, it is personal. In ,nsequence the answers to problems will not be found in legislation. It is when ower-seeking trades-union officials meet stubborn proprietors that relationships :come acrimonious.
In the present climate, employers have the chance to demonstrate their ability to n their own staff relations. It is a question of both sides understanding the problems id difficulties of the other. It is a question of building up trust and loyalty.
Attempts at legislating for better staff relations ve done nothing but harm in the past years. It is time the pawns in the game industrial chess took over from the • ofessional players. They are a luxury e can't afford.