Drivers against voluntary unions

Press, 1 September 1977, Page 7

Drivers against voluntary unions

The vote by Christchurch drivers on Monday to retain the unqualified-preference clause in their award was an indication of the workers’ reaction to the Government’s proposed ballots on union membership, said the secretary of the Canterbury Drivers’ Union (Mr P. R. Liggett). The unqualified preference clause means that workers must join the union within 14 days of taking on employment in the job where the union has coverage. Westport and Greymoutn drivers have also voted in favour of retaining the clause. Westport drivers voted 54-8, and Greymouth drivers voted 86-3 in favour of the clause being kept in the drivers’ award. Hokitika drivers will meet on Friday to vote on the issue.

Mr Liggett, who is acting

secretary of the Westland! union, said the decision to hold ballots had been made at the annual conference of the Drivers’ Federation. It w r as not made to embarrass the Government’s ballots, but it was clear from the voting so far w’hat the workers i thought of them.

Drivers in other centres in Canterbury will vote in the next few weeks. The combined tally will decide whether the unqualified preference clause will be inserted. If one area votes against the unqualified preference clause, its members will still have to belong to the union if the majority of Canterbury drivers are in favour of the clause.

Mr Liggett said that vot-' ing had to be done by local polls because of the award provision on stop-work meet-1 ings. |