Cook Is. Reds
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Challenge by Government- Sponsored Union
From Our Own Correspondent
Rarotonga, July 25.
AN official workers’ union was registered on July 12. Full title is “The Cook Islands (except Niue) Industrial Union of Workers.” It embraces every class of labour.
The formation of this government sponsored Union is bitterly resented by the Cook Islands Progressive Association which believes that this is a direct attempt to break up the CIPA. Actually, the new union has been organised by workers who refused to be intimidated by the CIPA’s “Join or else ...” methods of gaining complete control of Cook Island industrial affairs.
The CIPA had a stranglehold on Raro tonga while it held complete control of the waterfront. As the only workers organisation in the Cook Islands it had the sympathy of Communistic NZ water siders and used the strike weapon with full effect. A legal union, affiliated with the NZ Federation of Labour may change the picture somewhat.
But numerically the CIPA is a power ful organisation and its leaders are determined to fight. Mr. Albert Henry, Auckland secretary of the CIPA arrived in Rarotonga by the last plane. A number of meetings have been held and it is reoorted that one of the matters discussed is the formation of a company to market all native products.
Latest “independent” labour move is the formation of a “carpenters’ union.”
Employers were served with a circular explaining that, in future, anyone re quiring the services of a carpenter would have to apply to the organisation and that the following rates of pay per day must be observed; Head carpenters, 18/-; senior carpenters, 14/-; junior carpenters, 12/-; apprentice carpenters, 10/-.
The classification caused some amuse ment. With very few exceptions, native “carpenters” can generally be considered “labourers who are handy with tools,” and paid accordingly.
As it appeared that employers were paying little attention to the new organi sation, all “carpenters” were called out on strike. The strike, however, was not a success. Employers had no difficulty in finding other men for the work, and, so, for the present, most of the original “carpenters” are without jobs.