NEW DRIVERS’ UNIONS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26396, 14 April 1951, Page 6

NEW DRIVERS’ UNIONS

RIVAL BODIES AT WELLINGTON

MR SULLIVAN’S COMMENT (New Zealand Press Association) * WELLINGTON, April 13. In deciding to register a trade union under the Trade Unions Act, Mr T. Magee, secretary of the deregistered Wellington Drivers’ Union, had apparently overlooked one very important fact, said the Minister of Labour (Mr W. Sullivan) to-day. He was commenting on a report that although a new industrial union was registered in Wellington yesterday under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, the old union intended to seek registration under different legislation. Mr Sullivan said the new union registered yesterday intends to proceed immediately for a new award, and when this award is made, every goods transport driver employed within a 30-mile radios from the General Post Office, Wellington, will be obliged to join the hew union registered under the 1.C.. and A. Act.

“The fact that some drivers may already belong to a trade union will not exempt them from the compulsory unionism, provisions of the I.C. and A. Act, and they will all be obliged to join the new Industrial union registered under that act,” said the Minister. “In the circumstances, I hardly think that drivers will be anxious to join Mr Magee’s trade union when they know that they will be involved in paying two union'subscriptions. It is, of course, unlikely that Mr Magee has made this point clear to the drivers he has approached to join the trade union, but I feel that in fairness to the men themselves they should be acquainted with the legal position.”

• _ Mr Magee’s Comment The secretary of the deregistered Wellington Drivers’ Union (Mr T. Magee) said to-day that rules had been S rinted tor his union to register under ie Trade Unions Act, 1908. He said registration under this act would allow negotiations between employers and his union.