Pamphlet 'Labour propaganda’

Press, 14 May 1987, Page 8

Pamphlet 'Labour propaganda’

PA Wellington National members presented to Parliament, yesterday an Auckland Trades Council pamphlet, promoting the Labour Party, as an example of “propaganda paid for by compulsory union fees.”

The reinstatement of compulsory unionism appeared to be the biggest thorn in the Opposition’s side as debate under urgency continued on the industrial relations legislation.

The Opposition spokesman on labour, Mr Bill Birch, said unions used their membership fees to produce “this sort of propaganda, published by the Auckland Trades Council, paid for by thfe workers of Auckland — a political propaganda supporting the Labour Party’s election campaign.”

He said National would return to the 1983 legislation it had made for voluntary unionism. Mr Roger Maxwell

(Nat., Waitakere) also held up the pamphlet saying the Trades Council was using its membership’s resources to support Labour’s electioneering as “a pay-off” to the Government for bringing back compulsory unionism. Although the new legislation allowed people to apply for exemption from compulsory union membership, it still denied individuals "the right and freedom to decide for themselves,” Mr Maxwell said.

Mr Fred Gerbic (Lab., Onehunga) defehded compulsory unionism, saying that about 90 per cent of unions supported it. For the small minority against it, there was provision for workers themselves to decide not to have compulsory unionism.