Unionists asked to pay H.Q. levy

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33215, 3 May 1973, Page 1

Unionists asked to pay H.Q. levy

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 2. All 340,000 trade union members affiliated to the Federation of Labour are to be asked to pay a levy of 50c to help pay for the federation’s new headquarters building in Wellington. The F.O.L. conference today recommended unions to pay the levy either in a lump sum or by instalments.

It rejected suggestions that the levy should be mandatory and that it should be held over for a year for further study.

The two-storeyed 11,000 sq. ft headquarters in Wellington is now under construction and should be finished by December, giving 5000 sq. ft for the F.O.L. and space for affiliated unions. The president (Mr T. E. Skinner) said that the F.O.L. had paid $85,500 to purchase the section; the contract price for demolition of old buildings and erection of the new headquarters was $165,000. There would also be the cost of furnishings. Mr Skinner said that the F.O.L. had borrowed $165,000 from the bank and would need another loan to complete the project. Interest payable might amount to $13,000 annually. Letting half the accommoda-

tion would cover all outgoings, including rates and interest, but it would be helpful to save the $13,000. A levy of 50c an F.O.L. member, bringing in more than $170,000, would cover the cost of the project, said Mr Skinner.