RAILWAY SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23599, 7 March 1940, Page 11

RAILWAY SERVICE

UNIONISM ENFOECBD THE SECOND DIVISION DECISION OF MINISTER Compulsory unionism has been applied to the second division of the Railway Service as from last Monday, according to the Labour paper the Standard. Kmplovces who are not already members of one or other of the recognised service organisations are allowed a period of from eight to 16 weeks, according to the nature of their employment, in which to apply for membership of one of the railwaymen's industrial bodies, namely: (1) The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants; (2) the Locomotive Engine-drivers, Firemens and Cleaners' Association; (3) the Railway Tradesmen's Association.

The decision of the Minister of Railways, the Hon. I). G. Sullivan, to introduce compulsory unionism, the Standard states, was made upon representations from the Amalgamated SoI ciety of Railway Servants and is embodied in a regulation which lays down that the continued employment of nnv person to .whom the regulation applies shall be conditional on his holding membership in one of th.3 organisations. The regulation affects all members of the second division and all others who are subject to the conditions of employment ordinarily applicable to that division, except apprentices and juniors under 18 years of age.

When invited to comment on the fact that employees in the first division were not included in the regulation, the secretary of the Railway Officers' Institute, Mr. y. J. Stanley, stated that his organisation had the matter under consideration and had made representations to the Minister. Compulsorv unionism was applied to the Public Works Department a considerable time ago by the Minister in charge, the Hon. R. Semple, who required employees to become members of the New Zealand Workers' Union.