Compulsory Unionism

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29383, 9 December 1960, Page 10

Compulsory Unionism

Sir, —“M.T.” certainly appears to have a very one-eyed view. After all, the only thing most workers have to sell is their labour and are they not as much entitled to demand a fair price for it as a manufacturer for his goods? The only way he can >e assured of doing so is by union organisation. The man who refuses to join a union is generally a cowardly opportunist who is the first to grab at any wage rise or other benefit fought for by his mates, but too mean to pay his just fee to his union. I have no hesitation in supporting the views of the secretary of the New Zealand Dairy Workers’ Union, and I feel sure that if the incoming Government implements voluntary unionism it will be the first step to industrial strife all oyer the country.— Yours, etc., B. O’CONNOR. December 8, 1960. Sir.—Reading in “The Press’’ of November 29 a statement by Mr F. L. Langley on the abolition of compulsory unionism. 1 would remind him that many people are sick of being dictated to by the socialist dictators from the Trades Hall, and under a democratic government these people have a right to their views and freedom. Also Mr Langley might well look back to what the National Government did in 1951, and further back to 1913; and they can do it again.—Yours, etc., NON-UNIONIST. November -30. 1960.