DESIRE TO CONVINCE, NOT CONSCRIPT

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 13

DESIRE TO CONVINCE, NOT CONSCRIPT

Aims of Clerical Union

RIGID SCALE OF WAGES NOT SOUGHT

••Comment, such as that which appeared in 'The Dominion’ to-day under the heading of ‘Award Rates for Office Workers’ is welcomed by the officers of the Wellington Clerical Workers’ Union,” states a reply issued by the union yesterday. The reply refers to an article, prefaced by samples of proposed award rates for office workers, and containing criticism of the pro posals, mainly on the grounds that fixed wage rates for specified office oc enpations were difficult to apply in an equitable way. "We fully realise,” the union’s statement continues, “how difficult it is to make a satisfactory classification of the many types of office workers, and appreciate constructive criticism of this nature. The rates suggested (e.g., £3/2/6 to £5 for senior steno graphers: £6 for book-keepers, etc.), were intended to apply to the oil importing firms, and then only as an approximate guide. Scales for other types of business have not yet been completed aud there is no intention of try ing to establish a rigid formula. “As regards the lower rates of pay. the union certainly desires to bring the wages of all clerical workers at least up to the levels quoted, but it does not wish to do this by causing the higher salaries to be reduced, and in any case employees earning more than £4OO per annum are outside its scope. •‘Precautions will be taken to prevent dismissals as the result of any benefits conferred on lower-paid employees. The Government itself was well aware of this danger and took steps to prevent its Shops and Offices Act from having this effect, by inserting a clause which states that ’no per son who is employed in any shop or office at the commencement of this Aet shall be dismissed. ... by reason merely of any reduction or alteration made in his working hours pursuant to the Act.’

“Finally it cannot be too strongly emphasised that despite the fact that unionism is now compulsory in firms covered by an award, it is for the employees in each section of the occupation to help themselves and the union to secure that award, and to do this they should join the union. Its officers will do all in their power to assist them, but if any group of workers is absolutely determined not to improve its conditions, the union cannot force them to do so. We would like to convince any such group that it was wrong, by argument or public debate, but we are not conscriptionists.”