Religious beliefs most common reasons for union exemption

Press, 25 October 1985, Page 4

Religious beliefs most common reasons for union exemption

Religious beliefs were the most common reasons cited by people seeking exemption from trade union membership, a series of tribunal hearings in Christchurch heard yesterday. Five persons, each of whom paid a 5100 fee, had their applications heard by the Union Membership Exemption Tribunal, which was set up by the Labour Government after the return to compulsory unionism.

Mr J. A. H. Van DeLoo, a fitter-welder, sought exemption because he felt he could not serve God and at the same time make a stand against his employer. He did not want to be a member of a society which

was not governed or controlled by the Government, which he saw as an authorised instrument for carrying out God’s will.

An Engineers’ Union official, Mr G. D. O’Connell, said Mr Van DeLoo had lost his position as a union official, and had since been antagonistic towards the organisation. Mr Van DeLoo said he had been “led blindly” during his stint as an official, and now saw things differently through God. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which encouraged its congregation to seek exemption from trade unions, but left the final decision to

an individual’s conscience.

Mr W. J. Dykstra, a Christchurch Post Office worker, said the compulsory element of unionism put pressure on individuals and was in total opposition to his Christian beliefs.

He believed that the Post Office Union had become too political, and was concerned that it had actively campaigned against the Government in the 1981 General Election.

Mr B. H. Burnette, a Post Office Union official, of Wellington, said the union was fully democratic, and any political decisions it made came from the membership. He believed that Mr Dykstrab • exemption bid

was based on political grounds rather than conscience. Mr Gordon Clark, a taxidriver, sought exemption because his Christian beliefs dictated that he could not serve two masters. He had to choose between his employer and the union. He believed the Drivers’ Union was particularly militant, and sought to overpower or blacklist those who opposed it. He had a good relationship with his employer, and saw no need for union protection. Mr R. A. Taylor, an assistant planning officer, said trade unions had no place in New Zealand and he wanted “no truck” ’gh

them. He objected to the militant attitude of unions, which were holding the country to ransom. He did not accept that unions had achieved anything worth while. Mrs Katherine Winter, a secretary, applied for exemption because she strongly objected to being told to go on strike, and believed she should be free to choose her associates. All decisions were reserved. The tribunal, comprising Mrs Alison Quentin-Baxter, Mr Ivor Powell, and the Rev. Angus MacLeod, will hear further applications in Christchurch today.