COMPULSORY UNIONISM
REGORD MEMBERSHIP
[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]
CHRISTCHURCH, April 21
The compulsory membership provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1936, has led to a. record growth in union membership. Figures given to-day by Mr. H. E. Moston, the assistant-sec-retary of the Labour Department, show that this year the registration totals have reached record dimensions. They are expected to show substantial accretions. In January, 1936, there were 85,000 members of industrial unions in the country, Mr. Moston said. The figure had risen to approximately 195,000, an.increase of 110,000. There had also been a very big increase in the number of unions registered. It was expected that the figures would show further periodical increases in view of recent awards decisions, bringing new unions under' the compulsory provisions.
The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment. Act of last session provided foi; the registration of New Zealand unions covering all existing workers or employees, and stated that, all workers subject to any award or industrial agreement registered under the act must become members of a union. The legislation stipulates that, it is not lawful for an employer to employ, subject, to an award or agreement, any person who is not a member of a union.
The new total of union registrations easily creates a record. The membership of workers’ unions rose year by year without, exception from 17,989 in 1900 to 73,991 in 1914. It fell off during the war years, but a phenomenal rise was recorded in 1919, the year immediately following the cessation of hostilities. The total for 1928 (103,980) was the highest recorded until the now figures just released by Mr. Moston. Annually from 1928 to 1933 there wore decreases in membership, but. in 1934 there was a slight recovery, and in 1935 a further considerable Increase to a total of 80,929. It. is now expected that the total will shortly rise to well above 200,000.
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Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1937, Page 5
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317COMPULSORY UNIONISM Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1937, Page 5
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