The Curse of Respectability,

Northern Advocate, 27 May 1938, Page 4

The Curse of Respectability,

THE opinion that some classes of workers are too much smitten by “the curse of respectability” to be a success as compulsory unionists, is offered by a. Wellington Trades Union official. Apparently he feels sorry for these misguided people. No doubt it is imcomprehensible to him that there is a class of workerswho dislikes having his relations with his employer controlled by* outsiders. Actually, this class, to whom the idea of compulsory unionism is completely repugnant, is a very large one, and union officials are beginning to realise that in trying to apply unionism to such people they are liable to run up against a large number of snags. It requires no particular discernment to see the truth of the observation that “it is doubtful whether a compulsorily-enlisted trade unionist can ever become a real trade unionist. ‘.‘ln theory, every paid and salaried worker in the country, under the terms of legislation introduced by the present Government, is supposed to be a. trade unionist. In actual practice, this magnificently optimistic idea is already broken down of its own weight. There are thousands of workers right through the country whose jobs defy the sort of rigid classification which is necessary to bring them within the scope of unionism. They themselves, if anxious to belong to a union, can usually find one wiling to take them in. But, if indifferent about the matter, as most of them are, they cannot be dragooned into unions unless an army of officials is mobilised to track them down.

In the first moment of panic after the passing of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1936, a number of unions were hurriedly formed to comply with its provisions by people Avho would never have become unionists by choice. Many such unions exist in name only. Their members are notably apathetic toward the whole business. The idea of unionism as a powerful force, binding the Avhole of the body politic, is obviously impracticable Avhen large numbers of workers are indifferent to it. Within certain limits unionism is an excellent thing. To take it beyond ithose limits, to seek to apply it to occupations in Avhieh there is no call for it, is to create a needless political irritant, besides Aveakening trades unionism itself.