GUILD v. UNION

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 112, 8 November 1920, Page 8

GUILD v. UNION

A REQUEST EROM CANTERBURY.

The feelings which ha.ye been aroused in some centres owing to the formation of guilds which are intended to take the place of labour unions are evidenced in a communication sent to the Bfinister of Labour (HoTi. Sir William HerriesJ from Mr. C. Millar, chairman of the New Zealand Freezing and Allied Industries Officers' Guild. Mr. Millar states :—"We strongly urge you to resist the tyrannical attempt being made by labour unions to throw out the proposed amendment to the Arbitration Act, especially clauses 3 and 4. We consider that our guild, which is thoroughly representative of a technical industry," the clerical side of which is also largely technical, should have the right, equally with any union, to ths protection afforded by the Arbitration.' Court. The members of our. guild represent 97 per cent, of the clerical employees of their companies or firms, and we are unanimously antagonistic to being in any way' brought under the domination or control of the Canterbury Clerks' Union, which has a. mem-' ebrship of 240 out of a total of over 3000 clerks in Canterbury, whereas out membership is 194 out of a total of 200 employed. We have no dispute with our employers, and.have even.peititioned them to apply for exemption from the terms of the Clerks' Award. The Clerks' Union has no authority or claim to interfere with us. .We consider that workers need protection from Labour extremists more than they do from their employers, and wq look to you in the first instance to see that we get the protection we ask for."