Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Vol. 38, No. 18. July 23rd 1975

Editorial — National's policy on unions

Editorial

National's policy on unions

Photograph of striking workers

The National Party has served notice that if elected to office it plans to declare war against the unions. This was the content of its policy announced on July 9. While much of the policy deals with voluntary unionism this question is a red herring that disguises the real message of the policy - increased state control of the unions.

Most of New Zealand's Union history is of state control. State control has been expressed in two main ways. The first, favoured by the Labour Party, has been the State as mediator of the struggle between capital and labour. The state appears here as an 'independent' arbitrator in the field of industrial relations. The second, favoured by the National Party, has seen the state acting, without pretence of impartiality against the militant unions. This has taken the form of deregistrations and the use of the police and army to break strikes.

However the state serves the same master regardless of who is in Parliament. In the struggle of employer against employee the state stands ready to serve the employer's interests. And the major parties are dedicated to the continuance of capitalism and the continuance of conditions that allow companies to make 'fair and reasonable' profits.

As part of their struggle to make 'fair and reasonable profits' employers continually attempt to drive down real wages (in the past through direct wage cuts, today through keeping a respectful distance behind inflation as well as continually attempting to raise productivity). These attacks on workers are not opposed by the state - the state is there to ensure 'fair and reasonable profit'. Instead these attacks are opposed by workers organised in unions attempting to get the best possible price for the labour power of their members. The history of the struggle of labour against capital for wages and conditions is aptly summarised in the slogan 'Unity is Strength'.

Mr Muldoon recognises this and has, with the support of most of the sensationalist press, always attempted to drive wedges between workers and has mounted attack after attack against unions. His policy on immigration, soon to be announced, will attempt to foster the natural fear workers have of losing their job into hatred of the other racial groupings that they work with. His planned policy of sending Maoris with criminal records back to the country would also have the effect of increasing racial hatred. And of course there are all those unreleased accusations of union malpractice that must have every New Zealand worker thinking 'Could it be my union officials'. But perhaps the most important part of National's policy is what it doesn't say. National's emphasis is strongly on the rights of the individual (e.g. the planned Human Rights Commission) but hardly at all do we see any emphasis on the rights of groups.

Voluntary Unionism demonstrates their 'concern' for the rights of individuals. Individuals who have opted out of unions and people in areas without unions will be in future represented by the state. Such concern for these otherwise unrepresented individuals is almost laudable except that it ignores that whereas with a union a worker has an organisation that he and his work-mates directly control as a group according to democratic principles, state representation means that the worker has no direct control over those who represent him. Backward workers who choose out of their unions will be left as easy pickings for the employers - such is National's respect of their individual rights.

In fact, National's planned vote on voluntary unionism is a non-issue. In most industries compulsory unionism is favoured by both workers and employers. In particular the militant unions stand to benefit from such votes as less militant unions will lose members in a voluntary union vote while they will keep most of theirs. This could radically affect the balance of power in the FOL where the 'moderate' unions hold sway soley as a result of numerical strength.

Because of this most of the larger employers actually support compulsory unionism, Compulsory unionism plays a big part in keeping down rank and file initiative by supporting well-paid bureaucratic officials who are isolated from their members. Bureaucratic unions are helped to survive by compulsory membership. Two large Wellington unions, The Storemen and Packers Union and the Engineers attract as few as 10 to 15 people to their general meetings.

The Paper' summarised National policy towards state control as follows:

A national government will reintroduce penalties for industrial actions by trade unions against the "public interest" and for breaches of the Industrial Relations Act. Tougher sanctions will be introduced against militant unions and those taking non-industrial action. Secret ballots, conducted by the Labour Department, will be held to give workers in every industry the choice of voluntary or compulsory unionism.

The Labour Department will be given additional powers to interfere in union affairs and the Industrial Commission will audit regularly the finances of unions. Freezing workers have been singled out for particulars treatment.

The relevance of National's policy to students may appear a bit vague but its ramifications are many. A declaration of war demands that people take sides. Students will have to clarify their attitudes towards unionism. During the campaign for the Standard Tertiary Bursary, students acted as unionists - taking mass unified action over pay and conditions. If we see ourselves as unionists we must be prepared to stand up for unionism when it is under attack. In the past students have chosen against unions with regularity. In 1951 Watersiders were banned from speaking about the lockout at a meeting organised by a student club. Students have also acted as scabs. If National returns to office students will again have the choice of two sides. It is about time we decided for the unions

Bruce Robinson