COMPULSORY UNIONISM

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 199, 20 May 1936, Page 10

COMPULSORY UNIONISM

Not Necessarily Applicable To All Workers By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, May 19. Clause 16 of tiie Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill as redrafted by the Labour Bills Committee has been interpreted to mean that every person employed in industry must join a union. According to Mr. W. E. Anderson, secretary of the Auckland Employers’ Association, that idea is incorrect. The actual meaning cf the clause in Mr. Anderson’s opinion is that compulsory preference to unionists is established iu respect of any industrial employment the conditions of which are prescribed by an award or agreement. Persons employed in any industry or section of an industry not covered by an award are therefore not bound to join any union. The test phrase is: "The industry to which the award or agreement relates,” and the term industry is interpreted to mean the class of workers to whom the award or agreement relates. Any form of employment may be brought within the jurisdiction of this legislation by the formation of a union and the making of an award or an agreement, but until this action has been completed compulsory unionism is effective only in relation to existing unions working under awards or agreements. Employees in any industry to which an award relates who are exempted from the operation of the award by a specific provision in it will still be exempt, and the compulsory preference provisions will not apply to them.