UNIONISTS QUARREL

Evening Star, Issue 23725, 5 November 1940, Page 10

UNIONISTS QUARREL

DISMISSALS FROM MAIN TRUNK JOB QUESTION OF MEMBERSHIP TICKETS [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHUiICH. November 4. Between 300 and 40U men employed on the South Island main trunk railway were dismissed to-day, having failed to produce tickets of financial membership of the New Zealand Workers’ Union within a stated time. Tho men say the question of membership was “purely a domestic quarrel.” The national presiclent oi : the union asked the Minister or Public Works (Air Semple) to enforce section 31 of tho Public Works agreement, which provides for the dismissal of men who are not financial members of the union Tlie men are resident in various camps of construction work between Clarence Bridge and Taratnhi. All are reported by Air D. Popplewell, secretary of the 6aro branch, to he members of tin* Workers’ Union, with which a dispute arose over the appointment of organisers. Air Semple, who was communicated with by telephone at Tauranga to-night, had no comment to make on tho report that a largo body of men had been either dismissed or locked' out.