UNION DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 7, 8 July 1931, Page 16

UNION DISPUTE

CLAIM FOR FEES

MAN'S RIGHT TO RESIGN

Haying-applied-last year/or a clearance from, .the ; Wellington ' Metal Workers' Assistants' Union, A. Wilson, an employeo^of the Wellington Harbour Board, declined to pay any further subscriptions to the union. In a recent action at'tho Magistrate's Court the union claimed £1 10s for subscriptions from 14th July, 1930, to~2sth May, 1931, 45 weeks at 6d a week, together with a fine of, 7s 6d payable under . the union's rules for being in arrears!with his subscriptions. . ', : Mr. T. B. M'Neil, S.M., who heard the case, gave judgment at the Magistrate's Court yesterday for the union for 3s 6d, but held that, provided he paid his dues lip to 2nd September, 1930, Wilson was entitled to cease his membership from the union. Evidence showed that Wilson's work consisted, of. measuring, . cutting, handling, and. placing steel rods for, use in-reinforced concrete, work. He joined the union in "1927, and on' 22nd July, 1930, he paid all his union dues up to 14th July, 1930. Shortly after that ho asked the ■ general secretary 'of the union, Mr. Murray, for a clearance, as he considered -that owing to the nature of his work there was no necessity for him to remain a member. Mr. Murray told the defendant he could not get a clearance, and'that ho must, while in that employment, be a member of the union. . v: After discussing the- Wellington Industrial District Metal Workers' Assistants' Award, Mr.i M'Neil. said that, as the defendant: was employed by the Harbour Board •iv a, class of work excepted in the definition clause of the award, neither the defendant nor the Harbour Boardl as regarding the defendant, was bound by the award in any way., Provided he had paid his dues the defendant, was entitled_ to cease his membership from the union, and the union was bound to give him a clearance signed by the secretary. That, was the case when the defendant asked for his clearance in August; 1930. The defendant had paid his dues up to 14th July, 1930.. Tho present .award came into force on 2nd September following. The. defendant' would, on that date, owe' 3s 6'd in. subscriptions. ' 'Part of the claim," continued the •Magistrate,'" "was for a fino claimed because the defendant was allegedly, in arrears with' his weekly duos, but that •position has arisen entirely,on account of tho ; plaintiff's attitude, which- I find under its own rule to be unjustified. Technically, therefore, tho plaintiff is entitled to judgment for 3s 6d. On payment of that sum, in my opinion the defendant is entitled to cease his membership with the plaintiff "union. In the circumstances, I will not award Court costs against the defendant."