UNIONISTS OBJECT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 201, 23 May 1944, Page 6

UNIONISTS OBJECT

Transfer Fee Payment A spokesman for more than 20 men temporarily transferred from the Public Works Department for cable-laying work with the Wellington City Council, complained yesterday of being compelled to pay 10/- transfer fee to the General Labourers’ Union. This sum, he said, would be compulsorily deducted from the men s pay on Thursday. They were members of the New Zealand Workers’ Union and had come to Wellington by manpower direction. Therefore, it was contended, they should not have to pay a. fee arising from circumstances beyond tneir control. Further, if they were still here when the new union year began, tney would have to pay a full year’s subscription to the Labourers’ Union . and on their return to their original union when their present job was finished meet another transfer fee. Mr. P. M. Butler., secretary of the General Labourers’ Union, said that the arrangement of which the men complained was a mutual and legal one between the two unions. When the 10/- transfer fee was paid the men would not have to meet anv more payments to the Labourers’ Union in the current subscription year. They received the benefits of this union, whose working conditions and wages were better. If the men were here for the next subscription year they would be required to paj' the annual amount of 27/6, but on return to their original union there would bo no 'further payment required from them for that year but a 10/- transfer fee. The arrangement, in fact, protected men against having to pay full annual dues to more than one union,