THE MOND CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 51, 7 September 1928, Page 9

THE MOND CONFERENCE

DISCUSSION BY T.U.C.

ACTION APPROVED

British Official Wireless. (Received 7th September, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 6th Sept. At the Trade Union Congress at Swansea to-day resolutions were discussed condemning the action of the General Council in taking part in the industrial peace conference with a group of employers, under Lord Mclchett, formerly Sir Alfred Mond. The resolutions were in the name of several minor trade unions. In •view of the resolution which was passed by a large majority on Tuesday instructing the General Council to take steps to purge the trade union movement of Communism, the issue was never in doubt. The three big unions of transport workers, railwaymeii, and miners had decided to support the action of General Council. CONTROL OF INDUSTRY. Mr. W. Citrine, secretary of the Trades Union Congress, opening the debate, said that congress had to make a decision that would be very important for unions for many years to come. Outlining the circumstances in which the negotiations, had been opened at the invitation of the employers, he said that the attitude of the employers in the past had been one of hostility towards the claims of labour, but now no specific claims that came within the purview of industry would be excluded from discussion. Moreover, at the very outset both parties definitely decided that there should be no interference either with the right to strike or the lock-out. The step which the General Council had taken was in accordance with the development of trade unionism throughout the world. At the present time there was a demand for the voice of the worker in the control of industry. Employers had conceded that right. The proceedings revealed little support for the condemnatory resolution, which was defeated on a card vote by 2,921,000 against 768,000.