Unionism by compulsion

Press, 12 March 1985, Page 18

Unionism by compulsion

Sir,—l agree with Craig Payne and G. Steven about there being no excuse for forcing compulsory unionism on the workers. Mr Rowe, said that the International Labour Organisation has criticised this new union bill very strongly and an official made parallels between this compulsory unionism and communist countries. It appears that people could be forced to join a State-recognised union and required by criminal penalty to make compulsory payments to an organisation that some workers do not want to join. Freedom to choose will be outlawed in New Zealand and our payments will eventually line the pockets for Labour Party contributions. To me this is another form of taxation in support of the Lefties who want to run our country, whether we support it or not. — Yours, etc.,

G. McNAMARA. March 7, 1985.

Sir,—Perhaps Craig B. Payne could explain why he writes to you instead of directly to the Deputy Prime Minister. The Government does not respect public opinion in the matter of compulsory unionism because the public has no more right to interfere with unions than it has to interfere with the Employers’ Federation or the Medical Association. If Craig B. Payne studied the history of unionism and could identify with union members’ needs, he would not write so pettily. — Yours, etc., K. NEALE. March 6, 1985.

Sir,—Congratulations to the New Zealand Employers’ Federation for its advertisement in “The Press” (March 8) in support of voluntary union membership. Unionists, often renowned for their stubbornness on the compulsory issue, are in reality supporting lower wages, and more unemployment. These facts were proved by a survey of right to work (i.e. voluntary union) states in America, where unemployment averaged 8.8 per cent compared with a non-right to work (compulsory union) states’ rate of 9.6 per cent. Voluntary union states saw a gain in new housing units authorised by 13.9 per cent compared with

compulsory union states where there was a decline of 31.4 per cent. Voluntary union states out-perform compulsory union states in creating jobs, and in increasing the average weekly earnings. There is now a major swing to voluntary union membership in America because of these positive results. When will our unionists show that they are genuine in their desire to help the workers, and support voluntary union membership?—Yours, etc., M. W. SHEPHERD. March 10, 1985.

Sir,—Workers wise in the ways of employers will read with amused cynicism the advertisement (page 9, March 8) in which the Employers’ Federation purports to champion the right of workers voluntarily to join a union. No worker should be in any doubt that what the Employers’ Federation is really campaigning for is voluntary non-unionism. Many illadvised workers have so interpreted the present law, which gives those workers the right to enjoy the conditions which unions have won for workers in long bitterly fought struggles against the employers, without contributing in any way to the winning or maintaining of those conditions. The founding fathers of the trade union movement fought for the freedom to associate. Today the Employers’ Federation, from their topsy-turvy view, turning freedom on its head, would like the workers delivered to them bound hand and foot, to enjoy freedom from association. —

Yours, etc., M. CREEL. March 9, 1985.