‘AUTOMATIC’ CHOICE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30530, 27 August 1964, Page 1

‘AUTOMATIC’ CHOICE

The effect of a statement by Mr T. E. Skinner to the secretary of the Workers’ Union (Mr H. J. Allen) was that the Workers’ Union would have the union coverage for the tunnel contract at West Arm, said. Mr Dempster in Christchurch.

When Mr Skinner, told Mr Allen that the F.O.L. would leave the question of job coverage for the 140 men at West Arm to decide, this

automatically meant the Workers’ Union would get the job coverage, said Mr Dempster. “Mr Skinner told Mr Allen the men at West Arm had said in no uncertain terms they did not want to become members of the. General Labourers Union,” said Mr "bempster. “Mr Skinner said the.F.O.L. did not want to judge the question of union coverage and would leave it for the men on the job to decide themselves which union they wanted to cover them.” Mr Dempster said the Workers’ Union would be pleased to give the men at

West Arm the full services of the union. Advice he had received on union coverage for West Arm. said Mr Dempster, had come through Mr Allen who had had conversations with Mr Skinner. . “The settlement, as I have read it, will allow the men, as under the rules of the Workers’ Union, to have direct approach and local autonomy on the job to handle their own domestic affairs,” said Mr Dempster. “This has been one of the major causes for dissatisfaction. Till now the contractors have not recognised the job committee.”