STRIKE ACTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 92, 20 April 1938, Page 11

STRIKE ACTION

APPEAL TO WORKERS

FEDERATION'S ATTITUDE

A desire that" all avoidable stoppages of work in industry should be eliminated and that strike action should not bs resorted to in any but exceptional circumstances was expressed by the Federation of Labour in full conference at Wellington last week, reports the "Standard."

An appeal to common sense was contained in the report of the federation's national, council, which stated: —

"Since the formation of our federation there has been, a number of industrial disputes which have involved stoppages of work by various groups of workers, namely, drivers, storemen, miners, waterside workers, carpenters,' and freezing workers. THE RIGHT TO STRIKE. "In saying that in some cases these stoppages were ill-advised, we do not wish to convey the impression that we are opposed to strike action as such. On the contrary, we believe in the right to strike and we shall maintain that right, as we realise that an industrial movement whose members would not strike when the occasion warranted or demanded such action would not be worth while.

f\Ve realise also that in. some instances the employers were guilty of extreme provocation. However, we say that no matter what provocation may be received, strike action should not be resorted to lightly or without exhausting other methods of achieving the end desired. 'In some at least of the eases in which a strike occurred, the conditions gained from the employers could have been secured by negotiation without a strike.

"As a general principle, wer believe that strikes should not take, place: (a) If the demands can be secured by negotiations, and, in any case, not until negotiations have been carried as far as is practicable; (b) if the prevailing conditions—general economic position, state of • the particular industry, enthusiasm of the members for the strike, ability of the union to carry it on to success—are unfavourable; (c) if the psychological results of. the strike may be such as to outweigh the value of any concessions gained (driving a wedge between farmers _ and workers during an election campaign)." The report was adopted. '