‘Communist infiltration’ remit for F.O.L.

Press, 11 April 1984, Page 4

‘Communist infiltration’ remit for F.O.L.

PA Wellington Delegates to the Federation of Labour annual conference in Wellington next month will be asked to express their concern at “growing Communist infiltration” within New Zealand trade unionism. The Freezing Works Clerical Officers’ Union wants the F.O.L. conference to record its displeasure at this “infiltration” by denying members of a Soviet delegation speaking rights at the . conference. The remit prepared by the union for the fortyseventh annual conference of the F.O.L. reads: “That the F.O.L. conference expresses its concern at the growing Communist infiltration of executive positions within the trade union movement in New

Zealand by not allowing any opportunity for members of the ‘Russian’ delegation to speak to conference.”

The All Union Central of Soviet Trade Unions usually sends a delegation to the conference. The F.O.L. executive’s annual report, which will be presented to the conference, reveals that the Wellington shop Employees’ Union’s secretary, Mr Graham Kelly, visited the Soviet Union last year as a guest of the A.U.C.C.S.T.U.

The report in part read: “The All Union Central Council of Soviet Trade Unions again extended an invitation to the F.O.L. to be represented at their May Day celebrations.

“The national executive endorsed Mr G. D. Kelly, secretary, Wellington Shop Employees’ Union, to attend

this conference. “Mr Kelly presented an extensive report on his participation in this conference and his visits to other parts of the Soviet Union.”