Page 1332 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 12 May 1993
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A corollary to this, of course, is the ideological argument for not joining unions. We do not allow people to be discriminated against on the basis of their membership of any particular religious group. Why, then, should positive discrimination on the basis of union membership be acceptable? To many in the community, their union's stance on political matters, for instance, may be unacceptable. Similarly, during the debate about abortion we saw union opinion divided. Union members may have differing views and may vehemently disagree with the public stance of their association or union. What is their option when unionism is compulsory? Does the union movement acknowledge that in recent elections some of its members voted for Independents such as Mr Moore and me, Liberal Party members, or other political groups? Does the union movement truly represent its members when it makes political judgments and statements? I think not.
I am aware that the Government will oppose this amendment and that, in the end, this move may mean more concerted efforts by union officials to ensure that future awards enshrine compulsory membership. That may be, but it does not detract from the fact that this amendment Bill needs to be considered on its merits. In doing so, I urge members of this Assembly to support Mr Moore's amendment Bill.
MR STEVENSON (11.24): Madam Speaker, I will be brief, as there is another matter I would like to get onto as soon as possible. Citizens do have the right to join a union or not join a union. However, it has often been the case that that right has been taken away by legislation. The sooner we return to citizens the right to freedom of choice, the better it will be. Much has been said that needed to be said. I will go no further.
MR WESTENDE (11.24): Madam Speaker, I was not going to speak on this Bill, but examples have been given that are so far removed from the facts that one would tend to believe, if one heard the other side, that all employers are bad, all employees are good, and all unions are perfect. There is no compulsion for a business to belong to the Chamber of Commerce, the Canberra Business Council, the Confederation of ACT Industry or the Chamber of Manufactures. They do that of their own volition because they can see a benefit. If it is so beneficial to belong to a union, why do more and more employees opt out? Why, if all unions are so perfect, do some unions have a rule that when you want to resign you have to pay up three months in advance, so that the employee has to come to his boss, cap in hand, asking for a loan?
Mr Berry: That is inaccurate.
MR WESTENDE: I can provide you proof positive.
Mr Berry: No; they have to give three months' notice of resignation.
MR WESTENDE: If you would like to have proof positive outside this chamber, Mr Berry, I am quite prepared to give it to you. I am not talking only about that. In some instances, because a company was in receivership, through no fault of the workers no union dues were paid. Two years later those unionists got a notice from the union threatening that if they did not forthwith pay the dues that were not paid to the union - as I said, they may or may not have been deducted by the receiver - action would be taken against them. Do you call that democracy?
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