UNION MEMBERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1937, Page 6

UNION MEMBERS

SECRETARY'S LETTER

COMPLAINT AT ATTITUDE

Complaint at the attitude^ of a trade union secretary towards the manager of a Wellington mill in connection with union membership was made by Mr. D. J. McGowan, at a meeting of the council" of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last evening.

Mr. McGowan said that the firm had imported between £20,000 and £30,000 worth of machinery, and had brought Australian operators to New Zealand to work the machines and to teach New Zealanders. Some of the Australians did not wish to join the union. The secretary of the union (Mr. W. T. Young) wrote to the manager of the mill stating that when a worker refused to become a member of the union, the union could replace him or her with a member or intending member whether he or she was capable of doing the work or. not. The writer stated that the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) and the Assistant- Secretary to the Department of Labour (Mr. Moston) had definitely &dvised him and another that the position was as had been stated.

"There are, in addition to foremen jisid forewomen, some who are not members," the letter stated. "Therefore it is requested that all enrol next pay day and that you will render your assistance in that respect. Should any not.so join, the union will take the steps to replace them in the employment as per above."

Mr. McGowan said that it was interesting to note that the Minister of Labour had recently stated when replying to criticism regarding unemployment relief expenditure, that the primary consideration was not the saving of relief funds, but insuring that industry and so on .was manned by the most suitable labour available, and to this end to act as introductory machinery between employers and employees. Mr. McGowan said that the council of the chamber could not do anything in the matter, but he thought-that it should be brought before it.