Union exemption over party link

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 1

Union exemption over party link

A Christchurch cleaner has been granted exemption from union membership on the ground that his union is a financial supporter of the New Zealand Labour Party. Mr Peter Oakley, a cleaner at Christchurch Boys’ High School was one of 18 people to gain union membership exemption after hearings by the Union Membership Exemption Tribunal in October and November last year. Mr Oakley told the tribunal that “the particular union to which I must by law belong is affiliated to, and a financial supporter of, the New Zealand Labour Party, a political party to which I do not belong, and whose ideologies and policies I find repugnant.” Mr Trevor Smith, repre-

senting the Canterbury, Marlborough and Westland Cleaners, Caretakers, Lift Attendants and Watchmen’s Union, said that Mr Oakley’s objection had been met by the union. Affiliation to the Labour Party was only in relation to 60 per cent of the union’s membership. This was the average majority of those supporting affiliation at meetings where the question was put to the vote, Mr Smith said. However, Mrs A. B. Quen-tin-Baxter, the tribunal chairman, said that an applicant “who .objects to becoming a member of the union he is obliged to join, on account of its political affiliation, should be regarded as so objecting on the ground of a deeply-held

personal conviction.” Union exemption was granted to seven people from Christchurch and one from Nelson. Four of the eight seeking exemption cited religious beliefs. All but one of the 10 people granted exemption in the North Island cited religious beliefs as their reason. They included eight people from Palmerston North who were members The Nelson exemption was granted to Miss Helena Smith (Nelson Clerical Employees’ Union), a clerk employed by Baigent Forest Industries, Ltd. She objected to belonging to any union because of her beliefs as a member of the Exclusive Brethren. Members of the Exclusive Brethren believe they

should not join a trade union and be linked with persons who could be unbelievers. They consider their responsibility is to their employers and that unions only intervene in the masterservant relationship required by the teachings of the Bible. Three Christchurch objectors were also granted exemption because of thenreligious beliefs. Mr Joss Van De Loo, a fitter-welder employed by Anderson Engineering, Ltd, and Mr Robert te Groen, a draftsman employed by Academy Industries, Ltd, were both granted exemption from the Engineering, Coachbuilding, Aircraft, Motor and Related Trades Union. Mr Gordon Clark, a taxi driver employed by Mr G.

R. Butterfield was granted exemption from the Canterbury and Westland Drivers’ Union. Apart from Mr Oakley, three Christchurch objectors cited non-religious reasons to the tribunal. They were Miss Elsebee-Yolanda Rulkens (Printing and Related Trades Union), a bindery assistant’ employed by Whitcoulls, Ltd; Mrs Vickie McDougall (Shop Employees’ Union), a shop assistant employed by J. Ballantyne and Company, Ltd; and Mrs Kathryne Winter, (Clerical Workers Union), a secretary employed by P. L. Berry and Associates.

A majority of the tribunal concluded that Miss Rulkens has “a deeply-held personal

conviction concerning her unwillingness to go on strike.” Mrs McDougall was granted exemption because of “her conviction that the attitudes and policies which she attributes to unions run counter to her own standards.” She had told the tribunal that she believed people should take personal responsibility for their actions and have regard for the needs of the country as a whole. Mrs Winter was given exemption because of her strong convictions and opposition to the policies of unions. She also did not want “to place herself in the position of being told to go on strike or to take other forms of industrial action.”