PROTECTION OF UNIONISTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27082, 17 May 1949, Page 6

PROTECTION OF UNIONISTS

Sir, —This is a statement by Senator McKenna which appeared in an Australian paper recently. In my opinion, it is very, interesting to unionists. Melbourne: An Arbitration Court regulation gazetted recently provides for assistance and protection for rank-and-file workers victimised by dictatorial union executives. . . . Effect of the regulation will be that rank-and-file unionists, whom Communist union bosses seek to intimidate and victimise for opposition to Red policy, will be able to submit their case to the registrar of the court, who will arrange for their defence and assistance'without cost provided he is satisfied of their bona fides. Knowledge of the new regulations will stiffen the determination of rank-and-file unionists fighting Communism. They will now know that they cannot be victimised, as Miller of the Carpenters’ Union was, and involved in considerable expense to obtain justice while their persecutors pay their legal fees out of union funds to which thd victims contribute. The new regulation fully justifies the deputation . . . which the Victorian ALP groups sent to the ALP Federal conference at Canberra last October to seek action on victimisation. The regulation has been approved by the ACTU and the AP -Advisory Committee, and will give great satisfaction to Labour supporters. Continuance of this firm attitude to Com-, munist tyranny plus action against corrupt electoral practices in Communist unions, will make a big difference to Labour’s prospects in the comine e’ection, I am, etc., Unionist.