CLERICAL WORKERS' UNION

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 128, 1 June 1936, Page 8

CLERICAL WORKERS' UNION

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Apropos the formation of a union of office workers, the public was told in the initial stages of the passage of the I.C. and A. Bill that such an organisation was desired by the workers themselves, yet those clerks in industries sufficiently large to speak for themselves are protesting strongly against being forced to join any union except one which may be controlled by their own members in their particular industry. • Unquestionably, this points to the fact that the workers, in large industries anyway, object to being subjected'to pressure. Mr. Butler has implied that any body of workers who are opposed to becoming members of the union he controls are only actuated in their opinions by pressure on the part of their employers, and that their employers are the prime movers in any step towards a separate union of workers in a particular industry. This old skeleton has been dragged out of the Labour cupboard times without number and it is high time it was laid permanently to rest. The whole truth of the matter is ithat the Trades Hall realises its sword, ! w iU be chipped if certain industries i are allowed to pursue their own course. And if such a question is permissible, why should officers of the Trades Hall seek control of a union of office workers? Do they know anything of the peculiarities of working conditions of clerks, or is their interest actuated by the prospect of giving power and prestige to the Trades Hall?—I am, etC -> Am A.T. (To the Editor.) Sir—Some prominence has been given to the fact that clerical workers of the oil companies desire to effect separate registration as a union, and in your issue of May 26 the mere idea was roundly condemned by the "committee responsible for the organisation of the Clerical Workers' Union." Inquiries have revealed that definitely it is not the wish of the staff of at least one of the major oil companies to be absorbed into a general union, and surely the opinion of those concerned should be taken into consideration before arriving at any decision. I have been under the impression that the primary object of a union is to benefit the members, and if the above-men-tioned committee can point out any advantages which will accrue to oil company clerical workers through joining the general union, then their attitude is justified.—l am, etc., ONE OF THE STAFF.