Voluntary unionism preferred—survey
New Zealanders remain strongly opposed to compulsory unionism, four years after its restoration. A system of voluntary union membership was preferred by almost twothirds of those questioned in a new “New Zealand Herald”-National Research Bureau poll. - Public opinion on the subject has not altered significantly since late 1984 when the then newly elected Labour Government was under union pressure to restore compulsory membership. A “Herald”-N.R.B. poll then found 66 per cent believed union membership should be a matter of individual choice.
The poll taken a fortnight ago found 64 per cent held that view. The poll was conducted among 2000 people aged 16 and over and its results are subject to a maximum
sampling error of 2 per cent.
Respondents were asked: “Do you think union membership should be voluntary or compulsory for people working in jobs covered by pay awards?”
The poll .was held between June 24 and 30. were selected by random probability methods from the 20 main population centres and interviewed face-to-face.
The preference for voluntary unionism was most marked in the youngest group surveyed and stronger among women than men. But it was the clear preference of all categories. An occupation breakdown of the poll showed opinions strongly against compulsion among those in white-collar jobs, including clerical and retail
workers, and those not in paid work. Only the unskilled or semi-skilled category returned a narrower margin in favour of making union membership a matter of individual choice.
Union membership was compulsory for most workers under an unqualified. preference clause in awards until February 1, 1984, when the National Government made it illegal to require any person to join, or not join, a union.
In 1985 the Labour Government reinstituted a system which allowed union membership to be made compulsory by a secret ballot at union meetings specially convened for the purpose.
Copyright 1989 — the "New
Zealand Herald” Tomorrow: Should the police be armed with guns?
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Bibliographic details
Press, 13 July 1989, Page 3
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322Voluntary unionism preferred—survey Press, 13 July 1989, Page 3
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