Ballots ‘waste time’

Press, 1 October 1979, Page 6

Ballots ‘waste time’

Secret union ballots on having an unqualified preference clause in awards are a waste of time and money, according to the secretary of the Canterbury Cleaners and Caretakers’ Union (Mr G. Cumming). “It has reached the stage where we feel the Government should tell the taxpayers of New Zealand just how much it is costing the country to hold these ballots,” he said. Cleaners and caretakers in Canterbury. Marlborough, arid Westland have been conducting secret ballots on the unqualified preference clause in thd last two weeks. The final meeting was held in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Cumming said 95.5 per cent of members had voted in favour of retaining the clause. The 11 meetings throughout the region had attracted between 70 per cent and 80 per cent of the membership. The secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Carpenters’ Union (Mr J. Clough) was also critical of the ballots. “They have been a com-i

plete waste of time,” he said. He estimated the cost to the Canterbury branch of holding the ballots as $2500., excluding the cost of time spent by union officials. Twenty meetings held by the branch since early July had attracted about 40 per cent of members, who had voted 92 per cent in favour of retaining the clause. This figure had been reflected nationally.

The Canterbury branch of the Baking Trades Union has also t”* completed its* ballot. The branch secretary (Mr T. A. Watters) said that of the 108 Christchurch votes, 97 had been in favour of the clause, seven against, and four informal. About a third of the Christchurch membership had voted. In Ashburton five had voted for and one against, while in Timaru a football match seemed to have competed with members’ interests: of 37 members only seven had turned up at a meeting to vote. Six had (voted for and one against ithe clause.