TEMPORARY STATE SERVANTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 250, 20 July 1939, Page 3

TEMPORARY STATE SERVANTS

Federation Of Labour’s Attitude The New Zealand Federation of Labour yesterday issued the following statement explaining its attitude and policy regarding the organization of temporary workers in the Government service' —

“The conditions of these workers being inferior both to those established in awards, and to those of permanent Government servants, a number of them, notably clerks, approached the federation early this year with a request that some action should be taken on their behalf. The federation, therefore,- at a conference with the Minister of Labour on Jijne 14, stated ! ts policy 'through its president, Mr. A. McLagan, namely, that temporary workers in Government service should, where possible, join the existing trade unions covering their class of work. The organization of all workers inside and outside Government employment in unions according to the industry in which they are engaged is the objective of the Federation of Labour, for only thus can workers who happen to be employed by the Government secure the fullest benefits of their association with the trade union movement and with their' fellow-workers in their various industries under other employers.

“In pursuance of this policy the New. Zealand Clerical Employees’ Association has advised its constituent unions to admit to membership temporary clerks in Government service and a considerable number of them, particularly in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, have joined. Further progress, however, may be somewhat delayed by the setting up in Wellington of a new organization in opposition to the expressed policy of the Federation of Labour.

“Clearly, the power of the federation to forward the Interests of temporary Government servants is Influenced bv the amount of support they are prepared to give It, and should a section of them persist in opposing the policy of the Federation of Labour, its repre sentations on behalf of all temporary workers may be to that degree weakened. So all temporary workers in Government service should now decide whether they do or do not want the assistance of the trade union movement. Since it is realized that the majority of them do not understand the position, officers of unions affiliated to the Federation of Labour will very readily explain it to them or attend meetings or even convene them if invited to do so. “Claims for improved conditions have already been drawn up at meetings of temporary workers in the various centres and these will be placed before a conference of representatives of organizations and departments concerned which the Minister of Labour has undertaken to convene as «oon as possible. While the federation is ready and anxious to help them, temporary workers must realize that the best and speediest . esults can be obtained only if thev will put their whole organized bwength behind the trade unions and the Labour movement.”