WATERFRONT WORK

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24984, 19 September 1946, Page 4

WATERFRONT WORK

UNIONISM NOT COMPULSORY

(PA.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. When attention was drawn to the fact that there was no compulsory unionism on the waterfront in New Zealand surprise was caused in the Arbitration Court to-day. During the hearing of claims by the Wellington Foremen Stevedores’, Timekeepers’, and Permanent Hands' Union, mention was made of the use of clerks from shipping companies on the wharf at different times, and Mr Justice Tyndall asked what award they came under. When thoTfeply was given that they came under the Shipping Officers' Guild, his Honour said apparently there was no compulsory unionism in waterffont work, though the 1936 amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act made unionism compulsory where a union was governed by an award or industrial agreement. “Work on the waterfront Is not governed by awards or agreements, but by an order, and at a superficial glance it seems that there is no compulsory unionism on the waterfront, but there is a clause for preference for union labour.” he said His Honour added that the only law about compulsory unionism in New Zealand applied to unions governed by awards and industrial agreements, though the fact was not generally realised, and people would be surprised to know that unionism on the waterfront was not compulsory.