Two Unions Plan To Amalgamate

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31009, 15 March 1966, Page 18

Two Unions Plan To Amalgamate

Negotiations are well advanced for the amalgamation of the New Zealand Workers* Union and the Wellington, Nelson, Westland. Marlborough Labourers' and Related Trades’ Union.

This was announced yesterday in a joint statement from the general secretary of the workers’ union (Mr W. A. Dempster) and the secretary of the Wellington Labourers Union (Mr P. M. Butler). Fraternal discussions with a view to the amalgamation took place in Wellington on March 8. the statement said. The overtures were made by the New Zealand Workers’ Union in a direct approach by Mr Dempster. The proposition had been considered by the committee of the Wellington Labourers’ Union which had unanimously agreed to accept in principle.

The statement said the Wellington Labourers’ Union had nroposed certain matters in the mutual interests of both organisations. These related to administration, and legal and technical factors. “If agreement on these matters is resolved by both executives—and there does not apoear to be any impediment—the amalgamation will formally take place when the legal

requirements of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act are met. “The amalgamation of the unions will link two organisations which have played an important part in civil engineering, building and construction and public works, both local and national, over many years. “It is anticipated that one membership ticket will cover many hundreds of occupations, some of which at the present time require troublesome transfers and in some cases, the payment of more than one union subscription. “The lines of jurisdictional demarcation between the two organisations will disappear on amalgamation.” The statement said it was expected that the move would prove satisfactop' to the members of both unions, and make for ease of administration and further increase the ability of the two unions to protect and improve the conditions of members. It would be a few months before finality was reached In the meantime it was intended that both organisations would apply goodwill and fraternal understanding to achieve this important development in the industrial labour movement, the statement said.