Element Prepared To Disrupt Industry In N.Z.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14959, 23 April 1949, Page 3

Element Prepared To Disrupt Industry In N.Z.

Condemnation By New Union Carpenters Stale Their Case (P.A.) Auckland. April 22. Surprise at the decision of the Auckland Trades Council not to recognise the new carpenters' union was expressed today by the executive of the new body, who deplored the suggestion that the formation of their organisation had caused disunity within the trades union movement. "We were compelled by the cirumstances following deregistraUon of the old union to form a new cne to secure the privileges and protection of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act," they said. Not until the old union had refused to hand over the dispute to the Federation of Labour had any move been made to form a new union, and then only with considerable reluctance.

One of the main objectives of the new union was to oust irresponsible officials who had' alienated the sympathy of the rank and file of the union by their flagrant disregard for the law. They were convinced that every legal means of settling the dispute had not been explored by the eld union. The dispute should have been handed back to the Federation of Labour.

Though the interests of the executive were confined to the setting up of a new union, they considered their fight was something much bigger that a sectional dispute—the principle involved concerning every man, woman and child in New Zealand.'

The issue at scales was whether

3. sriall nutiorily of political'* - btesed persons were to use their union power to direct large groups of workers along - a particular political path in pursuance of the interests of the few. This element, said the executive, was prepared to disrupt industry, not with the primary objective of improving working conditions, but to cause confusion and discontent with the present system of arbitration. "Anxious For Unity"

Emphasis was laid on the fact that the now union was anxious to promote unity in the trades union movement. This had been impossible under the old union regime, with its centralised control. The new union would work at all times for the common, good of the workers, consistent with the retention of individual freedom. "This union will refuse to be intimidated by threats of nonrecognition, as it knows it carries the goodwill of its members and the general public. After registration it will seek affiliation to ■ the Trades Council and the Federation of Labour." added the executive.