THE PRESS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1977. Votes on union membership

Press, 12 November 1977, Page 14

THE PRESS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1977. Votes on union membership

Many spokesmen for the trade union movement have expressed their opposition to the ballots on compulsory union membership which the Government began holding last month. Other groups in the community, including some employers and, indeed, this newspaper, have opposed the ballots on the grounds that they are unnecessary, or that they are likely to have a divisive effect in the community and among trade unionists for no compensating benefit The only ballot held so far has been among cement workers in Golden Bay. It was described by the Government as a test run for ballots: its result was predictably and strongly in favour of compulsory union membership.

Neither critics nor supporters of the industrial ballots should fail to notice that 94 per cent of the members of the union took the trouble to vote, and more than 90 per cent of those who voted wanted the unqualified preference clause to remain in their award. The ballot turned out to be a vote of confidence in the union concerned and in the idea of running a closed shop.

Ballots in some other unions might not be so easily conducted: the results might be more equivocal. The holding of further ballots might yet turn out to be a useful exercise. A National Research Bureau poll conducted in September found that 54 per cent of New Zealanders aged more than 15 supported the idea of the ballots. The vote against was 32 per cent of the polled sample; and 14 per cent of the 2200 people questioned in the sample did not give an opinion. The result does

not show that a majority of New Zealanders are opposed to compulsory unionism. Some who favour ballots may merely want to see the strength of compulsory unionism made plain. Yet it appears that the unease about compulsory membership, which has been voiced frequently within the National Party, and which the party took account of in its election manifesto in 1975 and in legislation since, is shared by many New Zealanders.

That disquiet can best be allayed if members of trade unions are seen themselves to be strongly in favour of compulsory membership. Once a number of ballots have been held the point should have been made sufficiently for further ballots to be unnecessary, except in exceptional circumstances or when a significant number of members of a trade union request a ballot.' By holding several ballots the Government should be able to demonstrate that further ballots are unnecessary. The vexed question of compulsory unionism might then be removed from the political arena, at least for a time.

The trade union movement, on reflection, might still decide that it has more to gain from co-operation than from obstruction when unions are being chosen for further trial ballots. In almost all instances the result is likely to strengthen the industrial movement and to demonstrate confidence in its organisation. The Federation of Labour probably has more to gain than anyone from further convincing displays that the great majority of individual workers are not forced to belong to trade unions against their will.