ONE BIG UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10689, 8 September 1920, Page 7

ONE BIG UNION

PROGRESS 0F SCHEME.

MEMBERSHIP SAID TO BE INCREASING.

The scheme of linking up all the industrial unions in _ the Dominion into one big organisation—the New Zealand Workers'' Union; —which has been receiving some prominence of late, is reported by Labour leaders to be proceeding satisfactorily. A campaign of furthering the aims of the movement in the Auckland province lias- just been completed by the (secretary, Mr G'. Grayndler, who returned from the north yesterday afIternoon. In conversation with a "Times" .representative, Mr Grayndler said that tho possibilities of the scheme appeared' to be very hopeful. At every meeting of general labourers ho had addressed in Auckland decisions were given on the proposal to link up their union with the N.Z.W.U. At the present time the N.Z.W.U. represented all Dominion shearers and shed-hands, railway construction worIkors, threshing mill workers, farm.and general station-hands-, the Manawatu flaxmill hands, the King Country Timber Workers' Union, lind the Auckland General Labourers' Union. The membership now totalled about 19,000 -.vorkers, including 4000 members of the newly-affiliated Auckland General Labourers* TJrrioß. Th* organisation provided fior the protectipn of the workers, the funds to be used only in industrial activities. , "The feeling of the workers up north gives us reason to believe that the Auckland district will _ bo tho strongest branch. of the union," said Mr Grayndler. "There are large numbers of railway construction workers, general labourers and • rural workers who aro anxiously awaiting the opportunity to embrace such an organisation. The Government may as well try to stop the sun from rising as prevent the union's growth." 1 ' j A campaign is to be opened in the ißawke's Bay district, and later on a visit will bo mado by the secretary to the South Island.