CLERICAL WORKERS' UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23224, 23 June 1937, Page 7

CLERICAL WORKERS' UNION

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—The annual meeting of the Industrial Union of Clerical Workers of Otago, which was held last week, was both amusing and instructive. 1 came away with the impression that an annual meeting is a farce, a mere formality. In some ways it was so ot> viously arranged beforehand that certain resolutions should be passed that I wondered why a meeting was called. For instance, the matter of the secretary's salary. When it was put to the meeting whether the secretary's salary should remain as it was at present or be increased, it was decided by a good majority that the secretary's, remuneration should remain as it was. Yet much later in the evening, after a number of members had left the hall, one very persistent gentleman, obviously a friend of the secretary, rose and proposed that the incoming committee be recommended to review the secretary s salary at the end of six months, with a view to increasing it to £7 10s per week. To the natural astonishment of a large majority of the meeting, the motion was quickly seconded, and, on the strength of the predominance of male voices at the rear of the hall, carried. The nroposer very thoughtfully, and no doubt to/ensure that no wrong construction might be placed on his proposal, handed in the proposal on paper, and it was quite amusing to notice the haste with which our worthy secretary went forward to collect the precious document. In spite of the fact that a majority had voted against an increase, we had to sit helpless while this so obviously prearranged motion was put through. Previous to this, our secretary had stated that he bowed to the decision of the meeting and that his salary had no interest for him. Very contradictorv, since he made no demur when the matter of the increase was brought up His statement that his heart was in his work made me wonder if he would not be wise to consult a heart specialist. At the present time our secretary draws £6 per week, which is 15s per week more than the award wage. The chairman pointed out that the position of secretary is a more or less unpleasant one and one which might be terminated at any moment, and, in view of this fact, his salary should be one which should compensate for this. It is quite apparent that the officials of our union believe in making hay while the sun shines, and our worthy secretary does not object to being a reaper When Mr Herbert took on his job and left another one to do so he surely had the foresight to foresee this, and if he was prepared to take the risk, why not see it through? We were made to understand that the secretary's job is an unpleasant one. entailin g unpleasant interviews and work at night. When Mr Herbert first thought of this position he must have understood that this would be so and as for his job being any harder than that of any clerk in Dunedin. well, to nut it plainly, it is absurd. What other man is there in Dunedin who does not run the same nsk of losing, his job at anv moment? And if Mr Herbert does lose hi* job. tbr-n **>eve is the i-hance for the Labour Party to acknowledge the work of one of its followers. Our secretary <••--'--> of nifht work, but is he not overlooking the fpet that he is brepking one of the rules of his own award and disregardin" a cardinal aim of the Labour Party—that of creating work for more people? Mr Herbert spoke of the union's need for money, and ve-t is willing, with the interests of the union at heart, to accept an increase of 30s per week in spite of the fact that his salary did not yiterest him. I was one of many who were astonished to learn that our union had been affiliated with the Labour Party, for which the sum of sixteen guineas was contributed. I am anti-Labour and do not approve of this action, nor do I recollect that at any time we were consulted with regard to this move We were treated to an impassioned speech which made me believe that our secretary's powers of oratory wil not cease to flow at annual general meetings, but will eventuate in attempts to enter " the promise factory. I would suggest that the members of the Clerical Union are too apathetic. Out of a membership of approximately 1200 there were barely 2.10 present It would be for the good of the union if more members took an interest, in meetings.—l am. etc.. Amused.