COLLECTION OF DUES

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 250, 20 July 1942, Page 2

COLLECTION OF DUES

Employers As Agents For Unions Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, July 19. An obligation on employers in certain industries to collect membership fees and subscriptions on behalf of an industrial union of workers is a stipulation in the National Service Emergency Regulations which has recently been brought sharply to the notice of managements of business establishments in The first inforffiation of this obligation received by the managing director of a firm was in a call from the trade union secretary, who said be was experiencing difficulty in collecting the union dues from some employees and mentioned the possibility of having to resort to the regulations. That a regulation of this character was actually in force, though its full signifiance had not been generally realized by employers, was ascertained by inquiries instituted by the managing director. In amendment No. 10 of the principal regulations, under the heading “Compliance with law as to compulsory unionism,” the regulation states that every person employed in accordance with the provisions of the specified regulations shall be deemed to be a bona fide member of the appropriate industrial union of workers. If any such person refuses or fails to pay any membership fees or subscriptions or other moneys due by him to the union, the secretary of the union may request the district manpower officer to require the employer to deduct the amount from the wages of the person concerned. The officer, if satisfied that the amount is due or owing, shall direcr the employer to make the necessary deduction and pay it to secretary or other authorized officer of union, states the regulation. “It shall be the .duty of every employer to whom any such direction is given to comply with this direction,” it proceeds. The specified regulations referred to are those whereby the Minister of National Service may direct the performance of non-military service, may declare industries essential and provide for their maintenance and order the registration of persons available for employment and the compuisory employment of registered persons. The regulation requiring employers in such cases to collect, where necessary, fees from employees failing to meet their union obligations is stated to have been drawn to overcome the difficulty created in Die enforcement of other regulations. Once an industry is declared essential the normal relationship between employer and employee is set aside ami no employee may lie dismissed (except in eases of .serious misconduct), nor may he voluntarily leave his employment without the consent of the district manpower officer. Tn cases where persons are drafted into essential industries difficulties may arise. Should an employee refuse to comply with the compulsory unionship provisions, ordinarily the employer is held responsible when the employment is permitted to continue, in such cases while the regulation absolves him from tins contingency., it lays on him the obligation to act as agent for the union in collecting union dues.