Policy on union-leavers

Press, 10 March 1984, Page 8

Policy on union-leavers

The Woollen Workers’ Union will probably seek an independent committee or tribunal to hear applications for conscientious objection to union membership says the union’s national secretary, Mr P. O’Flanagan. The union adopted a policy at its annual conference in Auckland last month to allow conscientious objection. Already it has had one application by Mr Trevor Brott, who works at

the Feltex carpet mill in Christchurch. Mr Brott sent his application to the union last week and Mr O’Flanagan said that the union’s national council would now consider the application. Mr O’Flanagan said from Wellington that nothing “hard and fast” had been decided, but he thought that the council would probably set up a system similar to that which had been used before the Government

changed its industrial legislation last last year. The council would probably form a committee to organise the procedure for conscientious objection cases. It would probably try to find three independent persons in the community, perhaps including a minister of religion, whose advice would be sought and whose opinions on each case would be accepted, Mr O’Flanagan said.