UNION BENEFIT SCHEMES.

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 23, 26 January 1918, Page 11

UNION BENEFIT SCHEMES .

i Satisfaction will be felt by many unions with tho announcement made this, week that the Secretary for Labour favours an amendment of the Arbitration Act to enable unions to make provision, in their rules for benefits. • Many unions,' including the Amalgamated Society of Carpentors and Joiners, which placed the matter before the Minister for Labour, already, have such, provision, but the Supreme Court decided recently that suoh rules could not legally be registered. Though this may appear a. harsh decision it 3 ■wisdom will be perceived when it ib stated that the Labour Department has no machinery for determining whether the benefit schemes are aotuariaJly sound and fair to members. While this would not be a ground of objection with tho carpenters' society,, which ha*, modelled its benefit scheme, op the best British trade union lines, smaller bodieß might easily launch schemes which would break down with the least pressure. If the Arbitration Act is amended as suggested, presumably authority will be given to tht Registrar of Unions to obtain the assistance of the Friendly Societies' Department in the scrutiny and supervision of the benefit portion of union activities. Pending legislation unions' which already. have schemes in operation are advised to form themselves into friendly societies foi the,time being »nd register'in the usual w«y. ■.'....