University Staff Advised To Join A Union

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29051, 13 November 1959, Page 14

University Staff Advised To Join A Union

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, November 12. The suggestion that university professors and teachers join the Labourers' Union was made today by Mr P. M. Butler, secretary of the union. He was commenting of the dilemma of Dr. Peter Munz, senior lecturer in history at Victoria University, a £1615 a year post. Dr. Munz has been offered the chair of history at the University of New South Wales at a salary of £A3750, but because of his love for Wellington is reluctant to accept “The salaries paid to professors and all teachers, both primary and secondary, are nothing less than a public scandal,” said Mr Butler. “We have members of our union, usually referred to as ‘common labourers,’ who earn more than some professors or teachers. I feel certain that the services of some lecturers in history and other teachers are at least equal to the services of our members. “The solution to the problem is very simple: Why does not the professorial staff of the university join the Labourers’ Union “The labourer is worthy of his hire and we endeavour to ensure he gets it,” said Mr Butler.

“We also endeavour to provide for reasonable working conditions, safety welfare, compensation for injuries, matters arising from the Tenancy Act, protection on the job and a hundred and one other matters. “Our rules are wide enough to cover professors and lecturers that is, if they have no objection to the Biblical designation of ’labourer.’ ”

Mr Butler said that while New Zealand should be ashamed of the remuneration accorded brains and ability, intellectual and academic persons must accept some responsibility.

If they had no effective organisation to advance collectively their claims for justice, they should attach themselves to one that would.

“We extend this invitation in all seriousness because, if persons holding important positions which require high academic qualifications are forced to exist on a comparatively low standard of living, how can we continue to improve the conditions of our unskilled and semi-skilled workers?” he asked.