TIMBER WORKERS’ UNION

Grey River Argus, 6 March 1937, Page 5

TIMBER WORKERS’ UNION

EXECUTIVE MEETING. The secretary reported as follows:— A meeting of the Executive of the Westland/jTiinber Workers’ Union was held on 23/2/27, the following members being present: J. Rooney, vice-president (chair), B. Topp, A. Galbraith, W. Trouland, J. Wilis and F. L. Turley (secretary). A large amount of routine business was dealt with. It was decided that the amalgamation of the Nelson and Marlborough Unions -with f-n 'Westland Union be approved of 1 The case of a married man who had been off work for a considerable time was fully discussed, the secretary being instructed to make inquiries re invalid pension in a ease of the kind, and to point out that in cases of this kind invalid Densons should be granted. A lengthy discussion took place regarding the unity required in the Industrial Labour movement, and a resolution was unanimously carried that this union is in favour of the uniting of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour and the Trades and Labour Councils of New Zealand on the lines as suggested by the circular sent out by Mr Croskery, secretary to the New Zealand Alliance of Labour, on December 24th last, and further suggest that the Alliance of Labour send organisers out immediately to form District Councils, thereby completing the form of organisation. The meeting further suggested that the immediate =» work in this district be delegated to —i the secretary of this uinon, and Mr McLagan, of the Miners’ Federation with power to appoint local committees to ensure success of the unity proposals; as soon as this work is completed a national conference of District Councils be called, the Alliance of Labour to sent out circulars to all unions pointing out that there is no necessity for such a conference as called by the Railwaymen’s Union, the New Zealand Workers’ Union, and the Wn ♦’'"■siders ’ Union, | ONE BIG UNION OF N.Z. TIMBER WORKERS. A lengthy discussion took place regarding the above proposals, and the following resolution was carried:— “That this Executive is in favour of the One Big Union in the timber industry covering the whole of New Zealand, and urges- the membership of the Westland Union to endorse the proposals, and the secretary be instructed ~ to hold meetings in various centres asking for the endorsement of the rules which will be submitted.’’ The following circular is being sent out to all mills. To timber workers:— “IMPORTANT. “On November 17th last a very important conference of the Timber Workers’ Unions of New Zealand was . held in Wellington with a view to se- . curing unity of action for all Timber Workers’ Unions for the Dominion. ■ The following unions were represented ■ and comprise a membership of; approxi- ■ mately 8000: Auckland, South Auck- ; land, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson, ( Marlborough, Westland, Otago and , Southland. There was a unanimous ( feeling that we should go ahead, with the forniqtion of a National Union in < 1 this important industry. A tentative set of rules was agreed to, and a com- j mittee was set up to bring these rules £ before the Registrar with a view to ] seeing if they could be adopted. After/ ( some little amendment had been car- 1 ried out the rules as in this document! ( were approved by the Registrar, and t we now bring them under the notice s of the members with a view to their ( adoption. It is the considered opinion ( of the committee, as of Die confer- c ence, that it will be a distinct step j in progress to bring into being a N.Z. , Timber Workers’ Union., One of the c main reasons for this is the fact that we will thereby be able to secure an 1 Award for the whole industry cover- 1 ing New Zealand. It will be remem- f bered that during the depression 4 period, a large portion of our country r was left without awards, which could / not have happened had we had a Na- i tional Union. The unhappy effects of S having no Award are known to thous- 1 ands of our workers, and now is the I time to take steps to prevent any such catastrophe in the future. One advantage of th e National Union will be . that once a worker joins he will be a J, member of a Union extending from the North Cape to the Bluff. Proposals were made at the conference that we should aim at several ” things for the benefit of the workers in the industry, amongst which were: « 1 To aim to have a newspaper to give each member all the news of importance to him as a timber worker, j 2. To aim at securing an inspectororganiser, whose duty would be to see „ the Awards were complied with and g living conditions were of a suitable g nature. , ~ , 8 3 To give full cover to all members g regarding compensation fights. £ At the conference it was agreed that we should leave each branch of the 3 Union as much liberty as possible in controlling its own affairs and finance. 6 In accordance with this it will be 7 found that the fullest liberty has been a accorded branches both with respect to 9 general business and finance, the one d think excepted being the making of 9 Awards, which is a right conferred on 1 the National Union alone, and rightly I so In respect to finance, except for I the amount of from 2/6 to 3/6 per member per year, which must be sent to the central office, each branch retains control of its own funds. In 3 many unions the subscription now payable by each member is 26s per year, g and it is proposed that this amount ' shall be uniform throughout the Do- 7 minion, which considering the benefits 1 conferred by and through the union is “ a light impost; the right is reserved, I however, to double this charge when 7 a member does not do his duty 8 promptly. It may be mentioned in ‘ passing that there is a union in Weilington, consisting largely of women workers, which is paying 7/6 per I quarter, and yet the Award wage of t some of these workers is very little * over half of that of most timber workers In conclusion, we desire to make ( - the strongest appeal possible to you 2 to support this forward move. Timber workers have never been backward at l helping- along progreses. Now an opportunity is presented for all to show E they desire most strongly to move for- 1 ward. Signify to your officers that - 1 you are urgently desirous of helping c along this movement, and they will see ] the necessary arrangements are made. 1 Forward! Timber Workers to a Na- 1 tional Union! (Signed) F. Turley, W. \ Seator, J. Read (acting-secretary), ■ Wellington, February 20, 1937.’’ j