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.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19870514.2.67
Bibliographic details
Press, 14 May 1987, Page 8
Word Count
213Pamphlet 'Labour propaganda’ Press, 14 May 1987, Page 8
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.