NOTICE OF DISMISSAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 October 1925, Page 7

NOTICE OF DISMISSAL.

SYDNEY CIVIC OFFICIAL DOES NOT JOIN. UNION.

RULE BY LABOUR CAUCUS. Mr G. H. Mason, one of the most efficient officers of the electricity department of the Sydney City Council, and a well-known supporter of the National Party, recently was dismissed from his position because he refused to become a member of the Municipal Employees’ Union, in accordance with die following resolution passed by the council on September 1: “That from September 1. 1925', all employees of the Municipal Council of Sydney other than the town clerk, heads of departments, and deputy heads of departments, shall Itching to and be financial members of the respective union of his or her c-all-j 1lo'1 o' ”. The notice of dismissal was sent to Mr Mason by the head of his department, Mr H. F. Mackav. MiMason Ims the right of appeal to the town clerk, whose decision in such cases is final. Under resolutions of the City Council “Dismissal” includes the loss of all privileges and concessions. These have a considerable monetary value on retirement from the civil service. MiMason has been in the City Council s service for lt> years, and under the terms of appointment he would be entitled to accumulated leave of nearly six months for loyal and efficient service, and, further, he would he entitled to payment, at the present rate of salary', of two weeks’ pay for every year* of service bv way of retiring allowance. , „ . , Mr Mason has the right of appeal to the town clerk against his dismissal, and it will he for that official to say whether the circumstances are such as would entitle him to make a “concession” by way o.f granting the payments to Mr Mason to which he would have been entitled had he voluntarily resigned from the service. The secretary of the Municipal Employees’ Union* will virtually he prosecutor in the case. Under resolutions of the City Council the union secretary is permitted to attend and conduct the case of n civic employee who is appealing to the town clerk, against dismissal by"*’ the head of a department, but in this case the “offence” is not one against the City Council, but against THE PRESSURE ON. As soon as the resolution was passed by the City Council Mr Mason was approached by. an official of the Municipal Employees’ Union, who was one of the leading organisers for the Labour candidates at the last City Council elections, and askpcl: “Will you, now join the union?” and on being told by Mr Mason that lie was not to be browbeaten or bullied into foregoing his political opinions he was reported to the general manager 'of the electricity department bv the union official on the ground “that* lie is not complying with die resolution of the City Council.” Mr Mackn.v had to act “on the information received,” and formally asked the man if he was prepared to accept the resolution of the City Council and become a member of the union. Mr Mason pointed out that he had been associated with National politics all Ins life, and that lie did not 4 see Ins way to change lifetime convictions. Mr Mackav expressed his sorrow at having ho order his dismissal, but said he. was compelled to carry out the resolution of the City Council under instructions from the town clerk. Regret was expressed that the City Council was' losing the »ervices of such an efficient and reliable employee, and the’ official wlio handed Mr Mason his notice of dismissal also expressed regret that ho was compelled with reluctance to carry such a drastic decision into effect, especially as theie had never been any cause for complaint in respect to the manner in which Mr Mason had carried out his responsible duties. . During the life of the previous City (Viuni il. which also was controlled by the Labour Party, repeated efforts had been made to compel Mr Mason to join tb( Employees’ Union, but he always refused to do so. The matter was then officially brought under the notice of Mr Nesbitt, then town clerk, but Mr Nesbitt contended that the resolution then adopted by the Labour aldermen did not compel him to dismiss any employee for hot joining the union. and lie declined to sanction a dismissal. AN IMPERATIVE INSTRUCTION. The present Labour caucus, says the Sydney Morning Herald, so drafted the resolution passed in September that the town clerk is imperatively instructed to take “the necessary administrative action to carry into effect the terms of the resolution" and that all instructions to the contrary ho rescinded.” Alderman Wahler. secretary of the Reform aldermen, in a statement on the subject. said this was “unionism run mail,” but. as Mr Mason was peremptorily forbidden to bring bis case under the notice of anv alderman until it had been dealt with by the town clerk, the "Reform aklermen as a party could not take any official action until Mr Layton had given his decision on the appeal. “However,” said Alderman Wnldev.

;< the manner in which this notice of dismissal has been brought about clearly proves that Mr Mason had been marked down for victimisation at the earliest opportunity by the union officials. who now dictate the policy of the Labour aldermen, and clearly it is. in the eyes of those officials, an unforgivable sin to bh associated in any way with National polities.”