IN ARREARS TO HIS UNION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 857, 1 July 1910, Page 6

IN ARREARS TO HIS UNION.

TRADESMAN'S DILEMMA. A development of preference to unionists, which seems to call for publicity, was the subject of some statements made to a Dominion' reporter by persons in a position to know the facts. The following is an outline of tho case as represented:—A carpenter, who' was formerly a member of the Carpenters' Union, but had been struck off the books for getting behindhand with his subscription, offered to make up tho arrears, which amounted to 305., by paying ss. a month. Tho secretary agreed to the arrangement, and accepted the first instalment. A fendays later, the man having an oll'er of fresli employment at his 'trade, and wishing to avoid being blocked by the preference clauso in the award, applied again to tho secretary of the union, and asked to be reinstated as a member, on the strength of his undertaking to pay up the arrears as already mentioned. The request was refused, and the man, it is alleged, is thus placed in a serious difficulty. He cannot work at his trade until he again becomes, a member of the union, and he cannot rejoin the union bccauso he cannot afford to pay tho price demanded. Further, he could not join any other union unless ho first paid the arrears owing to the Carpenters' Union, and his prospects of getting employment to support those depending on him, "therefore, appear to bo anything but bright.