COMPLETE REPUDIATION

Evening Star, Issue 22383, 6 July 1936, Page 12

COMPLETE REPUDIATION

E.F.C.A. AND ONE DIG UNION CANTERBURY BRANCH RESOLUTION [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, July 6. Emphatic opposition to the proposal to form ‘ one big union ” in the railway service is expressed in a statement issued by the Canterbury branch of the Lticomotn e Engineers, Firemens, and Cleaners’ Association. The statement describes the action of the promoters of the “ 0.8. U.” m carrying out a campaign in the daily newspapers as “ most deplorable,” and calculated to stir up class hatred among the railway men themselves. The full statement is as follows: “ In reference to the recent publicity in the daily Press concerning ‘ one big union ’ in the railway service, the Canterbury branch of the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association wishes to state emphatically that it is definitely opposed to such a project. Having governed their own affairs for close on 30 years, the experience has convinced the locomotive men throughout New Zealand as to the wisdom of the step they took when they formed their own association, a step they have never regretted._ We would point out that workers outside the Public Service have their own unions, and though railway servants work for one employer,, the service is composed of a wide variety of trades and professions. _ In fact, one has really to stretch one’s imagination to call some of these men “ railwayman.These facts do not. make for tho unity which must be an essential feature in such a project ns *on big union.’ We regard the action of the promoters of the ‘0.8.U.” in resorting to a campaign in the dai'y papers as a most- deplorable ' one, in view of the fact that their membership throughput New Zealand is of very small dimensions, having regard to' the number of men in the service.

“ The only purpose it will serve will be to give the general public a false impression of the position, and tendency to stir up class hatred among the railwaymen themselves, a feature we are sure the present Government has no desire to witness.”