CLOSED UNIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1936, Page 6

CLOSED UNIONS.

In backing the opinion of "Just Learning in regard to the closed Watersiders' Union, my opinion is that a union thus closed fails to* be a union and constitutes a mbnopoly of labour, depriving capable men from participating in work offering, men who have spent years at sea, competent ex-watersiders, returned soldiers, who did this class of work and left it to light for freedom, which is now denied to them, with no redress even to the Arbitration Court. This Court holds the view that we as a body of men who made application before Mr. Justice Fair were not permanently engaged 011 waterfront work, and therefore not entitled to join the watersiders union or to form a union; in fact, a report in one newspaper stated that we would he a menace to the union of watersiders. I might state that is purely a stunt to gain the public sympathy. We have proved beyond doubt that we are loyal in every sense and stood shoulder to shoulder in all the struggles of the watersiders. So I say, open the doors of the Watersiders' Union. Union is strength, more money to back up that strength, and let the process of elimination take its course on the wharves, then we will have the pick of the capable men and the duffer and "eompo king" can use running shoes. But although the Hon. R. Semple says every man should be in a union, the Arbitration Court Act provides limitation. WIXCH EXD.