PREFERENCE CLAUSE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 11

PREFERENCE CLAUSE

WOOLLEN WORKERS' CLAIM A PEACEFUL INDUSTRY (By Telegraph.), (Special to "The Evening Post.") ' DUNEDIN, This Day.. "We want peace in industry," said Mr. W. "W. Batchelor at the Conciliation Council, which -was dealing with the claims of the New Zealand Woollen Mills Employees' Union for a now award in regard to increases in pay and altered conditions of work. '' We already have it in this industry," said Mr. T. K. Leithead (Kaiapoi). These remarks arose when the union asked for the insertion of the following preference clause: "On and after 13th of July, 1928, an employer in employing any worker subject to this award shall give preference of employment to financial members of the respective unions, or to persons who givo an undertaking in writing to make application to join such union within two weeks of accepting employment. Every worker .who is at present or may at any time hereafter before tho said 13th of July become employed under this award, shall not be employed on or after such date unless on or before such date he of she makes application to join one of the respective unions." - Mr. Batchelor, who . is secretary of the local union, said the clause.was one which was in use in Queensland. He. claimed that if the Legislature amended the Arbitration Act, as desired by the farmers of New Zealand, there would not be peace in industry. The union controlled its own industry, the union i controlled its own members, and if the employers would agree to the suggested clause things would go on well. Mr. W. T. Young, secretary of the Wellington. Union, said that before the recent industrial conference in Wei- ! lington there was a desire on tho part of many employers to do away with preference to unionists, but since the conference those employers had foregone that. The union was in a position to discipline workers, and see that the workers rendered tho best service. Mr. Cookson, for the employers: "Theoretically." „ Mr. Young made a further appeal to the employers to adopt the preference clause. He suggested that the union v would then be better ablo to Help the employers. Mr. Cookson asked how the einpJoyers would get on. with an unsatisfactory unionist. ■ • . . The Commissioner: "You can always discharge him." Mr. Young: said that there was no intention of taking away tho rights of employers in disciplining their workers or discharging them if they were incompetent. Mr. Batchelor said that, the union could harass employers if it weTe disposed that way. Mr. Cookson: "They often do." Mr. Batchelor said that was not done here. : Mr. Cookson: "No, not in this industry." Mr. Batcholor: "It is not our intention to, we want peace." Mr. Cookson said there was no trouble in tho woollen industry. Mr. Batchelor said that the union would not object to the employers dismissing a man who was incompetent, or who was1 of bad character. Mr. Cookson: "This is the most peaceful industry in New Zealand." Mr. Batchelor said that when the workers were all unionists there was a better feeling among them, and as a 'result better work was done. ■Mr. Loithead said that ho- sometimes thought that when the workers fell out and did not speak they did better work. (Laughter.) ■ Mr. Cookson said that in the industries in which unionism was made compulsory by the unions there was the greatest trouble.. - . , The council adjourned. > The employers made it pret.ty clear that they would not accept the suggested clause. They pointed out that in any. case the Court would not have it. .-. « , ■