UNION RULES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16424, 18 January 1919, Page 11

UNION RULES.

EXCLUSION OF APPRENTICES

A judgment/ of some interest to trades unions wits deliverod. by Mr J. W Poynton, S.M., at the Magistrate s Court at Auckland this week ujon a case in which Hugh Gresham, Inspector of Factories, sued L>. L. 0 ConncU, builder (Mr ft. McVeagh) for an alleged breach oi the Factories Act, namely, failui e to notify the secretary of the Plasterers' Union of the en- ■ gagenient of a non-unionist. *ailuie to"notify was admitted, but it was urged that the union had not observed the prcforencti clause in the award, and so could not now invoke it. His Worship stated that in all awards preference to unionists was conditional on the union allowing all workers in the trade the right to join tho union o.n reasonable terms. Ihe preference I clause in the Plasterers' award applied to "any worker coming within tho scope of this award." and two classes of labour were recognised—journeymen and apprentices. The rule. oi the union relating to membership, however, expressly stated that the union should be composod of journeymen yJasUirers only. Counsel had contended that the exclusion of apprentices bv this rule was contrary xo the award conditions, which clearly referred to "anv worker." "There is nothing to prevent an an-prc-ntico becoming a-member of a trad? ' union," his "Worship podded, ' ' ilicrf* ;iro many rontons irtliv tlitv should be encouraged to join and take mrt in the proceedings of the union. The inspector points out that apprentices be compelled to join, but tl>ov sl'or'd not be hr tb« rules-of the union a.; in this case. I fhink that apprentices should not be kept out of the union, and while they are it cannot, maintain .' Ts rischt to preference. Judgment will be for tue defendant without costs. '