ORGANISED UNIONISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26045, 8 January 1946, Page 3

ORGANISED UNIONISM

Sir,—l was rather interested in the following sentence which appeared in a letter from Mr W. D. Mason of. January 3: “When I wrote these words I had in mind the verbiage of many vicious attacks on organised trade unionists.” Apparently Mr Mason is unaware of the fact that “ unionism “ and the honoured ideals for which it stood in the past have been thrown overboard, and that the Trades Hall has become the spawning ground for a Socialist-cum-Communist political party. Tucked awav behind this double mask with which they shield their perfidy, we see the true story of a country prostituted by its leaders. Around this concept of the Prime Minister as ged and the promise of paradise for half a crown in the pound, the trade union pundits have rallied the simple-minded people and pumped them full of the fanatical single-minded-ness that comes to the totalitarian who believes his leaders have a divine mission. Recalling the many episodes that have blighted and defiled this country’s history during the last 10 years, cne understands why the truth about unionism, as practised to-day, is unpalatable to many. Like Mr Mason, X am reminded of many vicious things as I write. I remember the lipservice paid to loyalty and democracy, in banquet speeches, at farewells and receptions to returning soldiers, qnd then 1 recall what happened to the soldier s union funds while he was overseas fighting for the cause of freedom. . I remember the law which makes the soldier liable to a penalty of £5 if he fails to join a union on the request of a union representative, and the law that gives the union dictator power to have fities and levies deducted from a member’s pay envelope. I remember the laws passed by Parliament, and the enforcement of them against the weak and the non-enforce-ment of them against others, and to-day s fashion of one law for the powerful trades union and another for the farmer, the weak, and politically impotent. I recall the case of the two nurses (probationers) fined £5 each for staging a sit-down strike oi several hours’ duration, while the powerful coal miners on strike were rewarded by bonuses filched from the War Expenses Account. X remember with growing indignation the strikes and petty stoppages which sabotaged our war effort, the abuse of the rationing system and stabilisation scheme by powerful trade unionists, the victimisation of the people, how union officials became natibnal despots and ■’ labour bosses,” ever ready to protect the inefficient and lazy worker, while the fast and honest workers are often threatened with loss of their jobs unless they slow down. “ Feather bedding ” is rampant, and honest workers throughout the country are disgusted with the arbitrary union rifles that limit a workman’s output. If Mr Mason will digest these few truths he will realise why militant trade unionists are justly criticised per medium of the press.—l am, etc.. Matilda.