Call to retain party links

Press, 17 March 1982, Page 6

Call to retain party links

PA Wellington General branch membership of the Labour Party is “weak," say unionists in a paper which turns the tables on the party leader (Mr Rowling) on the issue of union Labour Party links. The party’s industrial affiliates council executive has produced the paper, which is being circulated at the same time as several unions have decided to break their Labour affiliation. It advocates that union links be retained. Replying to comments made since Mr Rowling aired the subject of severing some union links, the paper notes that union participation

in the party has been labelled as weak. “Party members tend to forget that exactly the same criticism can be made of branch membership generally." the paper says. "How many branch members attend branch and Labour Electorate Committees and meetings? What proportion of the party as a whole do the party activists actually represent?" It continues: “In the course of their work most union officials are regularly in touch with hundreds of workers, most of whom would probably vote Labour. How many branch members who are not industrially ac-

tive could say the same thing?” The executive, made up of union representatives, concedes that in provincial areas "where Labour really lost the (1981) election, not only party organisation but union organisation is weak. “The reason for union weakness until recently has been lack of resources and lack of organising staff,” the paper says. However, the development of big industries in such areas as Taranaki, Whangarei. and the Bay of Plenty meant that the situation was changing. "This is another excellent reason for retaining system-

atic links with trade union officials.” the paper says. The paper, circulated to members of Parliament, branches, affiliates, and electorate committees, also asserts that the true position of union affiliation has been misrepresented. It says one statement constantly made is that only 15 per cent of all trade unionsare affiliated to the party. But “among these affiliates are some of the major unions in New Zealand, the total representing 220,000 workers," the paper says. “This is a very different figure from the’ one being widely quoted."