LARGER N.Z. UNIONS

Grey River Argus, 19 November 1946, Page 5

LARGER N.Z. UNIONS

FEDERATION PROPOSAL ■ Change from Craft Unions P.A. WELLINGTON. Nov. 18. Mr A. W. Croskery, President of • the Federation of Labour, discussing a report from the Executive of the • National Council of the Federation, in which a complete overhaul of the j trades union organisation was pro- - posed to effect a move from craft unionism to industrial unionism, with ~ a view to giving workers more effec- ■ tive power within the various types of industry, said: — “The report adopted is only a preliminary outline to give some indication to members of unions as a basis ” for consideration of the idea. There is’ no attempt by- the Federation of Labour to force amalgamation down; the throats of the unions, as any decision, under the rules of the Federation, must come from the unions themselves. - -

“This suggestion can be entirely altered if other wishes are expressed by the unions concerned”. The grouping of workers under 12 national unions as proposed in the report, are:— (1) Agricultural, Primary Products, and Related Trades l Union, comprising workers engaged in or on farms, shearing, dairy factories, flax, freezing and related industries, fruit-pick-ing, etc. (2) Construction Workers’ Union, comprising railway and road construction, bridge-building, irrigation, and Public Works.

(3) Transport Workers’ Union, comprising all seafaring labour, railwaymen, tramwaymen, road, rail, and ah' ti-ansport, and waterside workers, harbour workers, and others directly related. (4) Metal and Allied Trade Workers’ Union, comprising fitters, turners, engineers, boiler-makers, moulders, motor mechanics, metal workers’ assistants, labourers, coach and aircraft workers. *

(5) Mine Workers’ Union, comprising all workers employed in and around mines producing or distributing coal and various’ ores.

(6) Food and Related Trades Workers’ Union, comprising butchers, bakers, flour, confectionery, grocery, sugar, dairy, hotel and restaurant workers, etc. (7) Textile and Related Trades Workers’ Union, comprising wool and clothing ’workers. (8) Printing and Related Trades Workers’ Union, comprising all workers employed in newspapers, commercial printing houses’, and cardboard factories.

(9) Light and Power Workers’ Union, comprising all workers employed in gas, electric light and power-generating stations. (.10) Timber, Forestry, and Related Trades Workers’ Union, comprising all workers 'employed in the production of- timber and directly related distributive workers.

(11) Building and Related Trades’ 1 Union, comprising carpenters, bricklayers, painters", plumbers, • tilers, - slaters, plasterers, electrical workers, - stonemasons, labourers, and furniture trade workers.

(12) Union of Post and Telegraph - workers. Waterfront Unions AMALGAMATION EXPECTED F.A. WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. Further’ steps in an amalgamation”, of all the New Zealand waterfront ; unions are expected in the next two - months, as a result of representations i by the New Zealand Harbour Board - Employees’ Union to the New Zealand -

Waterside Workers’ Union. This follows a recent merger of ship work carpenters with the Waterside Workers’ Union, which has a strength of about eight thousand. That will be increased to ten thousand if harbour board employees’ are also added to their strength. The National Secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr T. Hill, said to-day that a letter had been received from the Harbour Board Employees’ Union, and the matter would he discussed next month by the National Executive of the Waterside Workers’ Union.-