UNION FEES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22960, 11 February 1938, Page 14

UNION FEES

COLLECTION METHOD NO COMPULSION EXERCISED PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES [BY TELECRAVU—SPECIAL lIEPOHTF.R] WELLINGTON, Thursday A denial that officials of the Public Works Department had been instructed to collect the trades union membership fees of the unionists in its employment was given by tlio Minister of Public Works, Hon. It. Semple, jn a statement to-night. Tho statement was in reply to a paragraph published in Wellington. Mr. Semple said the paragraph would create tho impression that it was compulsory for officials of the Public Works Department to collect tho union fees of members of the New Zealand Workers' Union, and that it was also compulsory for the men to pay their union dues through tho department. Neither statement was true, although there was nothing new in such a method of collecting union fees. The New Zealand Workers' Union, said tho Minister, had an agreement with the Sheepowners' Association making it mandatory for employers to collect the union fees from their employees. Under this agreement an employer was required, on receipt of a stamped order signed by the workei, to deduct tho amount of the, union's annual subscription from the worker s wages and to remit it to the general secretary of the union. However, there was no such mandatory provision in the agreement between the Workers Union and the Public Works Department. The agreement stated that, the department may collect subscriptions on behalf of the union when the workmen givo the necessary legal authority." . , "No fees are collected by the department on behalf of the union, added Mr. Semple, "unless the individual bv whom they are payable requests that this procedure be followed and signs the necessary form. A request was made to the department to collect the fees, but we inserted a modified clause, aa compared with the mandatory provision in the agreement tween the union and the sheepQwnQrs. "To suggest that the Public Works Department is helping to collect for political purposes is the worst t> pe of political proaganda. It is true that workmen have to be members ot a union, but how they pay their subscriptions and what the union does with its own funds is their business.