THE UNION COMPANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9022, 29 October 1892, Page 5

THE UNION COMPANY.

ACTION OF COAL LUMPERS. Press Association.—Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Sydney, October 28. The Coal Lumpers' Union has passed a resolution urging the Liberal and Democratic members of Parliament to oppose the granting of a subsidy or other concession to the Union S.S. Company of New Zealand, on the grounds that the Company compels its employees to join a sick and accident fund over which they have no control ; that the employees are compelled to state they belong to no trade organisation, and will not join any such organisation while in the Company's employ ; also, that the Company's works and headquarters are situated in another colony, thus giving little work to citizens who are called upon to contribute the subsidy. The Union Company's manager in Auckland informs us that if employees belong to any benefit society there is no occasion to join the company's society, of which the members elect one-half of the managing committee. When a person is engaged he is not asked whether or not he belongs to a trades organisation. The San Francisco mail boats are docked, and overhauled at Sydney, and about £30,000 per annum is spent there in coals and other supplies. The boats employed in the Sydney-Tasma-nian trade are repaired at Sydney, and at) present about £4000 is being expended on the Oonah.