Ballot on compulsory union membership

Press, 9 March 1978, Page 10

Ballot on compulsory union membership

Canterbury’s Rubber, Workers’ Union of 800 mem ' bers will hold its ballot on! compulsory membership next! week. The union’s secretary (Mr L. G. Morel) said, that the only thing which would stop it going ahead would be if the rolls could not be! checked with employers in] time. The ballot will be held at] the rubber factories in a similar way to the local-; bodv and genera) elections,' with sealed ballot boxes and a checklist of names as t otes are cast Two Justices of the! Peace are being appointedby the union and Mr Morel; has been appointed return-] mg officer. The union will in-' vite the Labour. Department to inspect its methods Mr Morel said that a postal ballot had been ruled out because of the risk of; irregularities. Even if letters: containing ballot papers'

•were sent by registered post (there would be no guarantee i of knowing who actually : least the vote, he said. The ballot papers have ■ been worded in the same . wav as those used by the , Got eminent for its ballot of ; members of the Golden Bay .: Cement Workers’ Union last [ I year. Members will be asked to I tick a box opposite the I choice of one of the follow[jing:— 1 “I am in favour of the un1i qualified preference pro- !! vision remaining in the col'iiective agreement covering I my work. j “I am opposed to the unqualified preference clause '(remaining in the collective '(agreement covering my l work. The provision should ' be removed.” Union members voted at a i i special stop-work meeting I I recently to hold this ballot '| The union has been named >i unofficially as next in line for >ia Gevemment-run ballot bv

order of the Minister of Labour. Under Government ballots, the Industrial Relations Amendment (No. 2) Act says the effect of such a ballot must be included in the wording of the ballot. This is not a requirement of the ballot being conducted by the union itself, but nevertheless notices explaining the effects will be posted on works’ notice boards. Mr Morel said that the notices would explain in an impartial way the effects of the choices open to members. Asked if the union would co-operate with the Government in a State-run ballot 1 if nembers voted for retention of the provision in the union’s ballot, Mr Morel said that unless the Federation of Labour altered its present policy of tacit co-operation the union would probably co-operate, especially in view of the penalties for not doing so.