Free bargaining

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 20

Free bargaining

Sir,—The suggestion by the Minister of Labour, Mr Bolger, that non-union members could be given freedom under the law to negotiate their own wages outside award restrictions predictably stirred up a hornet’s nest in the union camp. The union movement has reacted to Mr Bolger’s excellent suggestion in a defensive, negative manner. Union leaders realise that the subsequent easing of their monopoly over labour would reduce their own influence and control, and instead of welcoming the increased freedom for workers they are attacking the idea. Rather than see the increased employment that will result and the subsequent increased production, the unions are interested in saving their own skins. Here is one worker Mr Bolger can count on to support his idea, and I will guarantee there are many more like me.—Yours, etc., L. J. BRAWLEY. May 25, 1984. Sir,—Mr Bolger’s proposal to set up an avenue by which nonmembers of trade unions can negotiate their awards shows that the notion of voluntary unionism is, in general, not working. Over the years, in most industries that I nave worked in, I have found it to be in the mutual interests of both employer and employee if the employee is a trade union member. By opting out, an employee is definitely at the whim of an employer, especially if that employer is an unscrupulous - one. The sad fact is that those employees who are opting out of the trade union movement will see the conditions of employment and wages paid fall to the conditions of last century — sweat shops and employees working for any pittance an employer offers. Whether Mr Bolger likes it or not, the return to the unqualified preference clause is the only way out of the malaise that looms on the horizon.—Yours, etc., PETER W. KENNEDY. May 24, 1984.