OBJECTORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 238, 8 October 1936, Page 5

OBJECTORS.

JOINING OF UNIONS.

RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES. " ONLY ONE BROTHERHOOD." I While most workers covered liy awards and agreements have accepted the principle of compulsory unionism willingly enough, several trades union secretaries in Auckland have had to deal with men who have objected to' joining nnions on religious grounds. j It was explained by one secretary this ! morning that an effort had been made to have exempted from awards members of a certain religious body, but there was no suggestion of this exemption in the Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act. Several conscientious objectors to unionism had come under his notice, one man stating that he belonged to the Brotherhood of God and could not belong to alVv other brotherhood. These men had expressed willingness to pay union subscriptions provided they were granted non-membership cards. His union, and others, were absolutely refusing to countenance this proposal, and wera adhering to the compulsory clauses of the Act. He had also had the usual type of man wh+> did not believe in unionism, because he did not want to pay the fees. These men had been compelled to join up because, while they did not believe in unionism, they believed in accepting any benefits which the unions might secure for them. Another secretary said that a man had come to him and objected to joining the union on religious principles, but he had previously been a member of the union and had only dropped cut when he had set up business on his own account. This man had been convinced of the advisability of joining the union, and as a consequence of so doing he had retained his position. He had apparently slept oil the prospect of either losing his job or joining'the union, and had decided on the latter course. The secretary added that a member of the religious body to which the present objectors belonged had actually been a member of his executive.