DRIVERS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1921, 2 December 1913, Page 6

DRIVERS' UNION.

SEVENTY APPLY IN TWO DAYS. Mr, Sinclair, secretary of tlio Wellington Carters' and Motor • Vehicles' Drivers' Union, is a busy man. During Saturday and yesterday lie received no fewer, than seventy applications for membership, fully one?balf of which itro from members of the old Drivers' Union. Ashed as to what qualifications ivero necessary for membership in the now union, Mr. Sinclair said that ho musthe able-to drive, know something about horses, and must be of good character. It has been painted out to Mr. Sinclair that the present strike of drivers is quito out of order, and in contravention of the rules of tho union, which provide that a ballot on a question shall bo taken when asked for. This is provided for in Hulo 26 which reads; "Ail general or special meetings of tho union shall bo called by advertisement or circular, 48 hours' notice being requisite and no business shall bo entertained at any special meeting except that specified in such advertisement or circular. •' Ten to form a quorum. Voting thereat may bo by show of hands, but at the request of any member present' any question submitted shall bo decided by a ballot." It is of course known amongst tire drivers that a ballot was asked for at the meeting at. which it was decided to go out on strike, but the usual Federation methods prevailed. Tho sort of vote taken was: "Sympathisers with tho strikers to the right; 'scabs' to the left!" During tho weeks of .waiting which liavo ensued tho meaning of things has been brought homo to tho men and has caused many of them to join tho now union. Mr. Sinclair states that practically all tho vacancies with tho big carrying companies have been tilled. In two eases —Eeir's and O'Brien's —some of the old men have gone back only to find their places filled. Tho employers are pledged to givo preference to tho new union men and intend to do so.