Religious privilege in union's sights

A union says it will challenge part of a law which allowed a South Auckland employer to ban union officials from his premises for religious reasons.

Fort Richards Laboratories, which this year warned its workers that they would be sacked if they spoke foreign languages in the tea room, used a little-known exemption in labour laws to bar the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union from talking to staff.

The exemption applies when the employer is a member of a religious society - in this case, the Exclusive Brethren, whose beliefs preclude membership of any other organisation.

Union secretary Andrew Little said it would ask Parliament to rescind this part of the law as it was being used to over-ride workers' basic rights. The union would lodge a submission to the select committee considering changes to the Employment Relations Act and would oppose moves to widen the exemption to include companies.

"This employer's wish to impose his religious practices on the workplace is costing the workers their rights," Mr Little said.

"Members of the group say that their belief in the divine principles governing the master-servant relationships means that the employing of unionised labour is in conflict with their consciences."

Fort Richards company director Maurice Clist said yesterday that he was doing nothing illegal - "just following my conscience. I am answerable to God. The principle is the issue and I really have to follow my conscience".

Mr Clist said his staff would not remain with him if they were unhappy with the union being barred from the premises.

The exemption applies only where there are fewer than 20 workers who are employed by an individual, not a company.

The Otahuhu company makes medical supplies.