TRADE UNIONISM

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22081, 1 May 1937, Page 20

TRADE UNIONISM

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PBKSS. Sir, —In order to enlighten the general public on the above question it would be interesting to have information supplied on the following points. (1) Is it compulsory for all workers to join a union before employment can be obtained? (2) Is there any specified test of efficiency before acceptance as a member, or can anybody be accepted? (3) Is there a public accountability in order to see that union funds are only utilised for purposes set out in the union rules? (4) Is it incumbent upon employers to apply to a union for required labour, and are they bound to accept anyone so supplied, irrespective of ability? (5) Can an employer discharge an employee for inefficiency? (6) Can the membership of a union be cancelled and under what conditions? And is there any judicial court of appeal against such cancellation? This is most important, as in the event of cancellation the unfortunate member is presumably automatically debarred from following his usual occupation.' A punishment, in many cases almost approaching capital punishment! (7) Is the control of a union where it belongs—in the membership whose jobs should be its first concern and whose dues support it? In such a case there should certainly be public registration, an official record of officers, a periodic accounting of finances, a careful supervision of elections, etc., etc. This would make the rank and file, rather than a dictator or dictators, the arbiters of union policy.—Yours, etc.. NEW ZEALANDER. April 27, 1937. ["This information could be obtained from the Registrar of Industrial Unions, Wellington," said Mr R. T. Bailey (officer in charge of the Labour Department), when this letter was referred to him.]