TRADE UNION’S CLAIMS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 March 1935, Page 6

TRADE UNION’S CLAIMS

NON-PAYMENT OF DUES. IMPORTANT POINT INVOLVED. (By Xolegrapn —Pros* Association .1 WELLINGTON, March 5. A civil case involving questions of great importance to trade unions was heard by Mr E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day and it is to be the subject of a. reserved decision by him. The Wellington Plasterers Union claimed from three- plasterers contributions and fines totalling altogether £ll 4s Gd for non-payment of dues.

Counsel for the union said the case was an important one because its result would have a bearing not only on /the future policy of trade unions in charging their members, but also on the future possibility of trade unions being able to function at all. The main point at issue would, be whether the union had th© right to charge any contributions against a member after he had been 12 months in arrears because, under another rule of the union, the’ roll of members had to be purged every 12 months by striking out the names of members who were in arrears with subscriptions for 12 months.

The union did not wish to bring the present action but had done so because it considered the men had been in work and had obtained the benefits of the union without wanting to meet their liabilities.

Counsel for the defendants submitted that the rule regarding striking out names was for the benefit not of the union, hut for the members and its effect should be that members were automatically excluded from membership when they became 12 months in arrears with their dues.