MANAGERS & FOREMEN.

Wairarapa Age, 1 August 1936, Page 5

MANAGERS & FOREMEN.

MEMBERSHIP OF UNIONS NOT COMPULSORY. UNLESS AWARDS SO PROVIDE. WELLINGTON, July 31. “I am surprised that there has been any suggestion that managers or foremen should be forced into unions. It is very doubtful whether many unions desire them to be members or would even admit them to membership,” said the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, in an interview. “The Act requires all workers who are subject to any award or industrial agreement to be members of the industrial union or trade union bound by that award or industrial agreement. A subsection states that it shall not be lawful for any employer, bound by an award to employ or continue to employ any adult person who is not, for the time being, a member of an industrial union of workers bound by the award or who is not a member of a trade union which is registered as such before May 1, 1936, and which is bound by the award. It has been stated that this subsection relates .to all employees in industry, whether covered by an award or not. My interpreation is that it applies to those persons in industry whoso conditions of employment are prescribed by a particular award. Unless the award make provision for a manager or foremen, then the compulsory unionism provisions do not apply. It should be pointed out that it is not usual to cover managers or foremen in awards. There are exceptions, such as the Grocers’ Assistants Awards and the Dairy Factory Managers’ Award. In large establishments, however, managers and persons in control are not covered by awards or industrial agreements.”— (P.A.)