UNIONS MERGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1945, Page 6

UNIONS MERGE

17,000 MEMBERSHIP ENGINEERING TRADES As a result of a conference in Auckland extending over several days, delegates representing the engineering and related trades unions have decided that in future there will be one union only, to be known as the New Zealand Engineering, Coachbuilding, Aii-craft and Related Trades Union. In making this announcement at the conclusion of the conference to-day, the newly-elected president, Mr. G. T. Thurston, of Christchurch, said the conference had discussed every phase of the position. He explained that for the last eight years there had been two unions representing the engineering trades, one in the northern industrial district and the other representing all other parts of New Zealand. The two unions had now merged and rules had been approved. r 'As we have a membership of approximately 17,000, we can claim that the new union is one of the largest industrial organisations in the Dominion," said Mr. Thurston. "Its ramifications cover a wide sphere of activities. Apart from manufacturing, maintenance engineers are employed in almost every sphere of industry. The funds, properties and energies of the two unions will now be pooled in the interests of all the members. Headquarters will be established in Wellington." In addition to electing Mr. Thurston to the position of president, the conference appointed Mr. F. Catt, president of the former northern union, vice-president, and Mr. J. Neale, secretary of the Auckland district union, secretary-treasurer. A number of councillors from the different areas will be subsequently elected to the new body. Mr. Thurston was the national secretary of the engineering union for all parts of New Zealand except the northern district.