AIM AT UNITY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1925, Page 7

AIM AT UNITY

.ONE BIG UNION IDEA

LEAD BY ALLIANCE OF LABOUR

■WILL TEADES COUNCILS FALL IN LINE ?

For some time past "Industrial Unity" has been the slogan of trade unionists, and the Alliance of Labour, -which in tho last year or so has suffered some reVorscs in the matter of membership, has been conducting. a publicity campaign, the'main feature of which-has been an attempt to resuscitate the one-big-union idea. With that end in view, the Alliance called' an open conference at the beginning of last month, and at this meeting a full discussion took place with the result that certain aims and objects were agreed upon as the basis of industrial unity. It is claimed by Alliance officials that delegates to the conference were unanimous on the pi'oposals brought down, but that does not necessarily niean that those proposals will be put into operation, as those organisations represented at the conference have the right to affirm or the decisions reached. Attempts have been made previously by the Alliance of Labour to secure the affiliation of Trades and Labour Councils, which represent the skilled section of the workers, but these attempts have not met with success. An open conference, held last year, drew up certain proposals, which, it was hoped, would prove attractive to Trades Councils, but the representatives of skilled workers did not view the proposals with favour. Whether the proposals which have now been drawn up will cause Trades and Labour Councils to change their attitude remains to be seen. There is a feeling in certain sections of the Labour movement that it would be a mistake for Trades Councils to join up with the Alliance of Labour; as there would bo a distinct danger of the skilled workers being placed under the control, of the unskilled workers of the Dominion.

POSITION OP TBADKS COUNCILS. The main proposal agreed upon by the open conference was that the following addition should be made- to the constitution of the Alliance of Labour :— (c) Miscellaneous department, comprising unions affiliated locally with the Trades and Labour Councils, and organised nationally through the Trades and Labour "Councils' Federation. '

The effect of this clause would bo that the constitution of the Alliance of Labour would be amended so as to allow the Trades Councils' Federation to affiliate with the Alliance as a, national organisation. The federation would then operate as the national organisation representing industrial organisations affiliated to it. The Trades and Labour Councils' Department Anil be allowed representation on the National Industrial Council in the same manner* as other national departments, and will pay capitation on its affiliated membership in the same'manner as other national departments—6d per member per annum. The local Trades and Labour Council has not yet considered tho matter, but it will do so at a meeting to be held early in June. Opinions differ, as to whether the proposals will be acceptable. It is held by-some that skilled workers as a body do not incline tow»vds an affiliation with' the Alliance of Labour, as they claim, rightly or wrongly, that those bodies affiliated with the Alliance are more militant than they are. "At seems to be a case of oil and water not mixing," said one Labour man to a "Post" reporter to-day.

OTHEE PEOPOSALS. Other proposals agreed upon by the open conference were as follow:— "Subject to the approval of the National Council, Industrial District Councils shall be formed wherever it may be. deemed advisable. Where a Trades and Labour Council exists and is affiliated to the Alliance of Labour through its national department, it shall form the basis of the Industrial District Council." "District Councils shall consist of representatives of all local unions' who are affiliated to the Alliance of Labour through their national department." "Unions which are not affiliated to the Allianceof Labour may affiliate with the Industrial District Council, provided that the District Council shall at once undertake the organisation of these unions into a federation or into their respective departments o£ the Alliance of Labour.

"Representation on District Councils shall be on the following basis: One delegate for each 20 members or part thereof, provided that no union shall havo more than six delegates." "Unions who are affiliated to the Alliance of Labour through National Federations of departments shall.pay to the District Councils 6d per member par annum, provided that any federation or industrial department may if it so do. sires pay Is per. member per year as capitation fees direct to the head offica and the head offico allocate pro rata half tins capitation foe to the Industrial District Councils, to which the workers of this department are affiliated. Unions wuch are not affiliated to tho Alliance of Labour through departments or federations shall pay Is per member per annum, 6d of which shall be paid into the head office as capitation fee. Capitation to the District Councils shall be quarterly in advance."

"The District Councils shall render the .New Zealand Alliance of Labour every assistance to organise the unions and associations affiliated to these councils on the lines of class and industry, in order that such workers may be grouped into their respective industrial departments as laid down in the methods of organisation of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour."

"The Alliance of Labour will accept in _ affiliation National Federations -of unions as units of industrial departments."