Voluntary Unionism

As an election promise the National Party stated that the membership of "Unions would become a voluntary decision by workers themselves. As the Party explained, all workers would have the chance to vote for a system of either voluntary or compulsory unionism. Very fair and democratic you say. But is it?

Under the proposed National scheme all employees of a company will get a chance to vote on the issue regardless of whether they should be in the union or not.

For instance, take a large construction company with a swag of carpenters and labourers as well as a few drivers, engineers and clerical staff, who are all covered by their separate unions. No only will these people vote on the issue but so will all salaried staff, including top management in the company!

It makes you wonder whether the National Party is trying to give all workers the right to choose whether or not they belong to their union - or are they after another, and far wider reaching goal?

If the National Government does hold the ballots for voluntary vs. compulsory unionism in this manner then some unions will suffer severely because of the unfair opportunity given to management and non-members to participate in the decision making process of the individual unions.