AMERICAN UNIONS

Grey River Argus, 17 April 1925, Page 8

AMERICAN UNIONS

Discussing the differences between American and New Zealand practices in trade unions, 'a northern Labour writer says:— “Under New Zealand awards there is often great differences of opinion as to when a journeyman becomes a foreman. The American definition is: “Any member giving instructions or orders to any journeyman on any job shall be considered as a job foreman, and shall receive the job foreman’s scialb, as set by! this local union.” Very many of the American tradesmen tridc to and’ from work in cars of their own, for motor cars cost only as many dollars in America as they do pounds in New Zealand. Section 21 deals with this phase of the question, and states: “It is distinctly understood that any member of this local union owning a vehicle of any kind will not be permitted to use it to convoy material of any kind to and from a job. Any member who violates this law must, be assessed or suspended. ”

“As a. guarantee of good workmanship scction\2o enacts that: “Tags or stickers will be provided by this local union to each journeyman, who shall place the same on all work. Said tags or stickers shall be placed on or near the metre of centre of distribution, and shall bear the date and signature of the journeyman. Any journeyman who shall fail to tag his work with an auth orised tag shall be assessed one dollar for each offence.’ The salary of the secretary of the union, or * business representative,’ as he is termed, is 50 dollars (£10) per week. The entrance fee for apprentices to the union is half the amount of the journeyman— tint is, £lO. By the fcay, the salary paid to the president of the fe/eration is 5000 dollars (£1000), and the secretary 4900 dollars (£960) per annum. These figures compare more than favourably with the salaries paid to our union officials under the Southern Cross.”