BIG UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 301, 20 December 1937, Page 8

BIG UNION.

CLERICAL WORKERS?

A MEMBERSHIP OF 5000?

EMPLOYEES' OBLIGATIONS.

As a consequence of the Arbitration

Court issuing ail award last week to cover clerical and office staff employees in the Northern Jndu-rial district, ti.e local Clerical Workers' Union is destined to develop into one of the largest unions in the Auckland province.

At the date of the issuing of the award the union had a membership of iSOO. These members had linked up voluntarily with the organisation since its inception in June, 193(1, but now it becomes obligatory on every person over the age of Is years covered by the award to become a member of the union. I%'ilure to do so renders an employee liable to dismissal.

The position is clearly set out in the piefetence clauses of the new award, which read as follows:—"It shall not be lawful for any employer bound by this award to employ or to continue to employ in any position or employment subject to this award any adult person who knot for the time being a member of an industrial union of workers bound by this award or who is not for the time being a member of a trade union which was registered as suck before Mav, 1030, and which is bound by this award; provided, however, that any non-unionist may be continued in any position or employment by an employer bound by this award during any time while there is no member of a union bound bv this award who is available to perform the particular work required to be done and is ready and willing to undertake it." Statement by Secretary. In commenting on the position this morning, the secretary of the union, Mr. A. S. Herring, said that since the award was issued on Tuesday last about 300 new members had enrolled, and he anticipated that the total membership would be increased to between 4000 and 5000 in the New Year. The award covered typists, telephone operators, cashiers and general clerical workers, and applied to the whole of the northern industrial district, including Gisborne. It was compulsory for every person over the age of 18 to join the union as eoon as possible, as the award was dated December 13. Provided all members fulfilled their obligations he hoped to have the register of members completed earlv in tho New Year.

Mr. Herring added that in view of the long wait for the award owing to the rush of work facing the Arbitration Court, clerical workers. were particularly pleased at receiving increases in wages retrospective to October 18. Some of the back payments were fairly substantial, amounting in cases to £8 and £10. The currency of the award was only till February 6. A New Zealand Association of Clerical Workers had been formed, and the association would proceed next year for a Dominion award to cover employees who are members of the eight clerical unions now in existence.