Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 2. 7th March 1973

[Introduction]

The Government and the news media frequently [ unclear: presen] strikes as subversive attempts to undermine New Zealand, economy. In the article reprinted here from the Public Service Journal, Bert Roth, a well known labour [ unclear: histori]. from Auckland, shows the extent of government [ unclear: attem] to subvert workers' right to strike since 1894. His [ unclear: histoi] survey provides a useful background to the Industrial Relations Bill, introduced by the National Government year, which proposes an overhaul of industrial relations legislation. The Labour Government sent the bill to a se committee, which has just finished hearing submissions it. In a subsequent issue we will print extracts from som submissions on the bill and commentaries on it.

The early trade unions in New Zealand, in the nineteenth century, had an unfettered right to strike. What is more, strikes were frequent, though usually of short duration and confined to one locality.

Photo of people marching with signs

Drawing of a policeman on a horse

Even policemen went on strike, in Dunedin in 1872, and though the authorities were undoubtedly displeased, the wayward constables did not contravene any industrial legislation.

The first nation-wide strike took place in 1880, when telegraph operators ceased work throughout New Zealand, and in 1890 the maritime strike involved seamen, watersiders, miners and other workers—some 8000 men al-together — in a stoppage which lasted 56 days.

The first relatively minor restriction of the right to strike came in 1894, in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Section 29 of this new Act provided that no union or employer would suspend or discontinue employment while a dispute was before the Arbitration Court or before a Board of Conciliation, but it added a clause saying "nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent any suspension or discontinuance of any industry, or of working therein, for any other good cause."

Amendments to the Act passed in 1898 and 1900 laid down penalties for breaches of awards, but this was taken a step further in 1905, when another amending Act deprived unions and their members of the right to strike in industries and districts where an award or agreement was in force. To strike, or to take part in a strike, or to propose, aid or abet a strike, or a movement intending to produce a strike, now became an offence liable to a fine not exceeding £100 in the case of a union and £10 in the case of a worker.