Voluntary unions

Press, 20 November 1978, Page 20

Voluntary unions

Sir, — Last week, for the first time in union history. South Island insurance workers threatened to strike. Unfortunately this dispute was settled — unfortunate, because as a moderate union without a strike record it will no doubt be declared voluntary by a cowardly government not able to keep

its word and face up to the real problems of industrial relations. As political policy industrial relations should be constructive and conducive to industrial harmony if a healthy economy is desired. The National Government has kept its word on industrial relations by using taxpayers’ money to bail itself out of a situation involving a strong union. At almost the same time, the evidence of a television advertising script suggests it was preplanning arbitrarily to force docile clerical workers to accept voluntary unionism for political ends. All this brings into question the activities of Strike Free, its director, Chris Harder, and Strike Free’s relationship with the Government. — Yours, etc.,

D. W. O. JONES November 18, 1978.