LABOURERS UNITING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14929, 29 February 1912, Page 8

LABOURERS UNITING.

A NEW ASSOCIATION. IUT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCUHOS'.} Chbistchcbch, Wednesday. The constitution and rules of too New Zealand General Labourers' Industrial Association of Workers, drawn up and approved by delegates - representing the unions at Duriedin on Thursday and Friday last, provide that the association shall consist of the general labouring building labourers, quarry workers, wool and grain store workers, and gas workers' unions, j and such other properly-constituted Industrial unions of workers who may hereafter | apply for admission to the association. The objects of the association are <£ combine in one body all kindred unions in order that their interests may be protected, their status raised, and their conditions improved, and to overcome the evils arising from separate action. The membership at present consists of the Otago General Labourers' Union, the Southland building trade and general ' labourers, wool and grain store employees, and gasworks employees, and drivers' unions, the Canterbury general labourers, builders' labourers, quarry workers, and wool and grain employees' unions. The association is to be governed by a council consisting of a president, secretary, and treasurer, elected by a ballot of the whole of the members of the association, and one delegate from each federated union. The council is to be the ruling power of the association, and to have authoritv to adjust grievances, hear and act upon all appeals, and upon all measures that | may be biought forward for the welfare I of the association, to adjudicate as far as j possible on. all important cases of dispute I throughout the Dominion, to organise unions and branch offices where such are required, to conduct all industrial disputes, and to use every effort to secure adequate compensation under the Workers' Compensate or other Acts. The council is also to determine any question that may arise as to what are local affairs as distinguished i from those affecting the association. To meet the expenses of the association, each union federated to it shall contribute 6d per member per quarter. The following pledge was approved by the conference, and it was resolved that all members of the association should be askod to accept it:—"l hereby pledge myself to accept and loyally adhere to the rules arid constitution of the Federated Labour Association, to conform to all its decisions, and not to work for less than the rate of wage fixed by the association, nor take the place of any'person out on strike."