Compulsory unionism

Press, 30 June 1983, Page 16

Compulsory unionism

Sir,—ln Susan Taylor’s excellent appraisal of unions I read with great interest all the many union benefits she enumerated; but I would have been even more appreciative had she been equally informative about union and F.O.L. leaders, many from the U.K., who use their more-or-less permanent secretarial posts to further their political aims. The continual strikes, disruptions and bans they engineer cause severe discomfort, deprivation and great unnecessary expense to fellow citizens, to unionists’ families and to their country. As this union power, gained by compulsion, coercion and intimidation is so strongly influencing the lives and finances of us all, it would be reasonable to allow us all to have a say in the election of non-politically motivated F.O.L. leaders. Good, caring South AFricans are condemned and ostracised because they have not elected a non-apartheid government Does not the same criticism apply to those unionists who have allowed themselves to be dominated by their present F.O.L. leaders? — Yours, etc., E. MULCOCK. June 26, 1983. Sir,—According to Susan Taylor (June 24), all things bright and beautiful in industry are a consequence of trade union activity and that all “social injustice” and “grievous persecution” of union officials, etc., in developing countries is caused by Uncle Sam hiding under the bed. She further stresses that “strong independent compulsory unions” somehow “guarantee democracy.” Perhaps she could explain how denying someone the freedom to join or not to join an organisation “guarantees democracy”? History (and any daily newspaper) abounds with examples of people with widely differing political opinions, appealing to “the preservation of democracy” to justify the erosion or destruction of individual liberty. This type of empty rhetoric does not guarantee democracy or anything else worth' while. It only guarantees a standing ovation at the union A.G.M. and other similar events. — Yours, etc., DAVID SHANKS. June 26, 1983.